honey-pot ant

Honey-pot ants are known for their unique behavior of storing liquid food in their swollen abdomens, acting as living reservoirs for their colonies.

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Definition

(technical, scientific)A type of ant where certain members store liquid food in their enlarged abdomens to feed the colony during scarce times.

Honey-pot ants play a crucial role in their ecosystem by storing and distributing food within the colony.
Researchers study honey-pot ants to understand their unique food storage behavior.

(technical)An ant species with specialized workers that act as living food storage units, holding nutritious liquids for later use by the colony.

The repletes of honey-pot ants can swell up significantly to store nectar.
In some cultures, honey-pot ants are considered a delicacy due to their sweet, stored liquid.

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "honey-pot ant":