Repletes

• Typically, only larger ants of a colony swell in size and become storage units. These individuals, called "repletes," might expand their abdomen to as much as 2/5 inch or more. In addition to nectar, the repletes store other liquids such as water and fluids from other insects. The repletes hang from the tops of tunnels deep in the colony's underground nest. The abdominal color of the repletes varies from light to dark amber, depending on the exact nature of its contents.
  
  

Myrmecocystus

• All North American ant species that produce repletes belong to the Myrmecocystus genera and live only in Mexico and the western United States. Depending on the species, they might be most active during the day, at night or at twilight. The different species all live in dry habitats and have deep nests. Colonies typically contain one queen along with thousands of worker ants. The nest usually has only one entrance.
  
  

Competition

• Colonies of honey pot ants may compete with each other for resources, including the repletes and their supply of nectar. Usually this completion does not involve outright conflict, but when one colony obtains many more members than another, a battle can occur. The larger colony invades the smaller and kills the queen and most of the workers. They take the younger workers, the larvae and the honey pot ants back to their own nest.
  
  

Delicacy

• Predators find the sweet nectar of the repletes tempting and often dig deep into nests to find them. A wide variety of desert animals feed on honey pot ant species. Humans also enjoy the taste of honey pot ants. Some early Native Americans considered them a delicacy. They made an alcholic drink from the nectar and thought the nectar possesed medicinal powers, according to Randy C. Morgan of the Cincinnati Zoo.