Myrmecocystus

Myrmecocystus genus is one of the rarest ants in the world. It compromise of species that are only found in specific areas of North America. Out of the lower 48 states of the US, the different species of Myrmecocystus aka honeypot ants or honey ants  are only found in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. Besides the 2 states in Mexico which are Sonora and Chihuahua you won't find these anywhere else.  If you live in those 8 states that I mentioned then you are in luck because you have a chance to find them. So what makes these genus rare? Out of the 48 states they are only found in 6 states in the US and are only found in 2 countries compare to other species of ants that have huge population range where they can be found in several countries or states.  In addition, honeypot ants are mostly found in the high desert because they are well adapted on living in desolate environment since they can form repletes. Repletes are workers that can become a living storage unit for resources. During Spring and Summer season the ants gather nectar and store them into their replete workers so they can survive months of food scarcity. Even thought most of them are found in a small range of habitat there are different species and varities of honeypots that are hidden in the desert. There are some varities or species that are only found in a very small range of habitat. Example is the Myrmecocytus placodops, it has 4 types of varities but one of its varities is only found in one town. On this page you will see the different species and varities of honeypots, some of them have not been properly ID yet.