ABSTRACT
According to reports in the 1800s quoted by Bodenheimer (1951) , various peoples in Mexico and western USA ate honey ants freely and appreciated them very much; they searched for repletes in the nests they found , and took great delight in sucking honey from the abdomen. In Mexico the ants were also pressed and the honey collected for eating at meals. Measurements on Myremecocystus mexican us and other species suggest that a single replete might contain between 0.5 g and 1.0 g of honey. The honey was also applied to bruised and swollen limbs, and 'great healing properties' were ascribed to it; it was also fermented to make an alcoholic drink. Ant honey was regarded as 'delightful' by a number of travellers quoted.
