Wild Bush Honey Ant Brown

Wild Bush Honey Ants by Audrey Martin Napanangka
Aboriginal women will gather Honey Ants from nests found under Mulga Trees by digging half a meter around the entrance of the tre roots where in general the storer ants reside. Found in central Australia around Alice Springs the ants construct nests in red flat sandy soil under a tree or bush and with the entrance camouflaged amongst dead litter. There are many types of these ants and only a careful eye and skilled tracking will enable Aboriginal women to find them in the hallow trees. Honey Ants are unique in using their own bodies as living storage, but they have more functionality than just storing food. Some store liquids, body fat and water from insect prey brought to them by worker ants. Honey ants can later serve as a food source for their fellow ants when food is otherwise scarce