Figure 2: Public view of the honey ant, M. mendax, display colony at the Cincinnati Zoo Insectarium showing the foraging arena above and naturalistic observation nest below. The nest contains an upper sub-surface labyrinth of tunnels and small chambers, and a main vertical passage leading downwards to a series of larger domed nest chambers.
Figure 3: Behind-the-scenes view of our honey ant, M. mendax, display colony. Hydrostone nest chambers are supported by adjustable shelves. A black rectangular heating pad gently warms the sub-surface labyrinth. The large clear plastic box connected to the display nest with flexible tubing still contains some of the original laboratory nest chambers.
Figure 4: Numerous repletes of M. mendax hang in one of the lower nest chambers. All developed after the colony moved into the observation nest. Replete at center, and several others, are partially filled with nectar and have gas bubbles uppermost.