Honey Pot Ant vs Sugar Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Honey Pot Ant | Sugar Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myrmecocystus mexicanus | Camponotus consobrinus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 5-15 mm (repletes up to 25 mm swollen) | 5-15 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Woodlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Honey Pot Ant
Certain workers called repletes serve as living food storage vessels. They hang from the ceiling, gorged with honey and nectar until their abdomens swell to the size of grapes.
Did You Know?
Replete workers become living pantries — they hang motionless from the ceiling, swollen to the size of grapes, and regurgitate stored honey on demand to feed the colony.
Sugar Ant
A common Australian ant with an orange-brown thorax and black head and abdomen. It is mainly nocturnal and frequently enters homes seeking sweet foods.
Did You Know?
Despite their common name, the term 'sugar ant' in Australia refers specifically to this species, unlike the generic use elsewhere.