Everything was well packed and arrived in excellent condition
Sale
Red Honeypot Ant (Myrmecocystus placodops)
Sale price
$135.00
Regular price
$165.00
Save $30.00
Live arrival guarantee. Your ants arrive alive and healthy, or we send a free replacement within 5 days.
FREE Overnight Shipping on orders $100+. Add a second queen or colony and most orders qualify. Under $100, it's $24.99 flat.
Ships via UPS Next Day Air, Monday to Thursday, and arrives by noon the next day. Heat or ice pack included free.
Secure checkout. Pay with card, Shop Pay, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 22 reviews.
I could not be more satisfied with this purchase and will order again.
Arrived a day early honestly and everything was alive and well. the test tube still had good moisture which was a relief. Cant wait to see the repletes fill up with all that golden nectar
Queen is laying and the workers look strong, worker count was a hair lower than i expected.
I had concerns about ordering during the current heat, but the packaging was clearly designed with temperature management in mind. The colony arrived without any heat stress. The workers have that lovely amber tone and the queen is a good size.
This was my first foray into ant keeping and I was apprehensive about ordering live animals online. The colony arrived in excellent health and the experience has been genuinely rewarding.
plugged the tube into my ytong nest and within a day they had moved in completely. zero stress.
Given the cold temperatures at the time of shipment, I was uncertain about live delivery. The insulation was adequate and all individuals arrived healthy. The workers have that lovely amber tone and the queen is a good size.
Moving the colony to a larger enclosure required minimal intervention. They relocated on their own within 48 hours.
Came super well packed, not a single loss in transit. queen is already active and the workers settled in fast. Cant wait to see the repletes fill up with all that golden nectar
customer service is top notch. emailed them about shipping timing and got a reply the same day. would buy again no question. Cant wait to see the repletes fill up with all that golden nectar
Healthy queen and an active colony, a single worker did not survive transit, which is expected with live shipments. Overall a strong colony and I would order again.
The package arrived ahead of schedule and the colony was in excellent condition. No stress or losses despite the current heat. The workers have that lovely amber tone and the queen is a good size.
Colony looked exactly like the photos — strong workers and queen healthy Fast delivery
Fast shipping and great QC Colony established itself within days
Shipping was super fast and the myrmecocystus placodops arrived healthy and active Great packaging
Excellent handling and speedy shipping — colony looks healthy and is active
Arrived in perfect condition The box was insulated and the myrmecocystus placodops were alert on arrival
Quick shipping, healthy ants, and the support team walked me through setup Highly recommend
Worker eclosion is already underway and the brood pile is expanding daily. An excellent founding queen.
Having ordered from several sellers over the years, this was the healthiest and best-packaged colony I have received. This is now my preferred source.
The founding colony is developing rapidly, with a healthy mix of eggs, larvae, and pupae already present.
American Ant Store
Red Honeypot Ant (Myrmecocystus placodops)
Sale price
$135.00
Regular price
$165.00
Save $30.00
American Ant Store
Red Honeypot Ant (Myrmecocystus placodops)
Description
Myrmecocystus placodops (Red Honeypot Ants)
Myrmecocystus placodops, known as the Red Honeypot Ant, is a bold, visually striking species native to the deserts and rocky valleys of the American Southwest. Their workers display deep red coloration contrasted by a dark, nearly black gaster—creating a vivid, two-tone appearance that instantly stands out. True to the honeypot name, M. placodops produces repletes that hang from the ceilings of nest chambers, their abdomens swollen with stored nectar that sustains the colony during dry periods.
This species thrives in hot, arid climates and adapts beautifully to desert-style formicariums. Colonies are active, coordinated, and fast-growing when provided with consistent heat and abundant food. The repletes form quickly and display a mesmerizing deep red glow when filled with sugar solutions. Because of their visual contrast and steady growth, M. placodops is a favorite for hobbyists seeking honeypot ants for sale that combine beauty, durability, and scientific fascination.
In captivity, Red Honeypot Ants reward attentive care with dynamic behavior and consistent development. They are easy to feed, forgiving of small environmental fluctuations, and one of the best display species for any serious ant-keeping collection.
Species Info
General:
A robust honeypot ant featuring rich red coloration and a contrasting black gaster. Naturally adapted to desert climates and excellent for heated, arid setups.
Diet:
Provide constant access to byFormica Ant Nectar or similar sugar sources, along with protein 2–3 times per week in the form of fruit flies, crickets, or mealworms.
Temperature:
Maintain 78–85°F with a mild gradient and light humidity near brood chambers. Keep replete areas dry.
Nest:
Vertical or sand-clay nests that allow repletes to hang naturally. A dry outworld replicates natural desert soil conditions.
Diapause:
Not required; colonies can grow year-round with steady heat and feeding.
Growth:
Moderate to rapid. Brood matures in about 6–8 weeks, and colonies can reach several hundred workers within a year.
Queen size: 13–16 mm Worker size: 4–9 mm
Note: All ants for sale have a range where the species is native. Always check your local regulations before purchasing live ants.
States Native: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Utah
Learn more: Honey Pot Ant Care Guide | Ant Feeding Guide
Shipping Information
Shipping happens from Monday-Thursday via UPS Next Day Air. Flat Rate $24.99 Charge. From the moment your order is shipped you can expect to receive them no later than 12pm the following day!
Please note, orders take between 1 to 3 business days to process and ship. If you would like your order to be shipped the same day please email us at support@americanantstore.com with your order number as the subject line and the email text "SHIP TODAY". We will do our best to ensure it goes out the same day!
During the summer ants are shipped with an icepack at no additional charge. The same goes for shipments during winter with a heat pack!
Live Arrival Guarantee
Live Arrival Guarantee
Every colony we ship is backed by our Premium Live Arrival Guarantee. We pack with care so your ants arrive alive, healthy, and ready to thrive.
5-Day Health Guarantee
We proudly offer an industry-leading 5-day health guarantee on all colonies. If your queen or colony declines within this period, we will provide one complimentary replacement, no questions asked.
Simple, Hassle-Free Replacement Process
If an issue occurs, just send clear photo proof within 5 days of delivery and we’ll take care of the rest.
Email: support@americanantstore.com
Live Animal Responsibility
These are live animals. We are not responsible for ants left outside in extreme temperatures, including summer heat or winter cold, or for packages that sit unattended after delivery. Proper and prompt retrieval is essential for their safety.
Commitment to Quality
We take exceptional care in raising, packing, and shipping every colony, and we stand behind the quality of each queen or colony we send out.