Indigenous Australian Ants’ Honey Recognised by Science

A supplied image obtained on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, of Australian honeypot ants. Scientists discover honey produced by Australian ants possesses unique anti-microbial activity against bacteria and fungi. (AAP Image/Supplied by University of Sydney)

An Australian team of scientists found that the unique honey produced by the honeypot ant has such anti-microbial properties that can be used medicinally.

Researchers led by Andrew Dong and Dr Kenya Fernandes from the University of Sydney’s Carter Lab and Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases worked with the Australian honeypot ant (Camponotus inflatus), which can be found in the Honey Ant Dreaming site, located in Central Australia.

“I have long been fascinated by the honeypot ant and its amazing way of producing and storing honey,” Mr. Dong said.

“Given the medicinal use of the honey by Indigenous people, I wondered if it might have unique antimicrobial characteristics.”

Scientists collected specimens of the honeypot ants, known as ‘repletes.’ These are a type of worker ants that have inflated abdominals full of honey, which they regurgitate and share with other ants in times of food scarcity.

The researchers extracted the honey from them and tested it for its antimicrobial susceptibility, which is the first time an ants’ honey has been tested for that.

Potential New Treatment For Bacteria

Scientists said their research showed that the honey of the honeypot ants has a unique species-specific activity which they think is due to the ants’ unique evolution and ecology.

The bacterial and microbiome profile of the honeypot ants proved to have dominance by a specific bacterial and fungal species, which they suggest means that there is a relationship between the health of the insect and the microbiota, and this, in turn, may influence the specifications of the honey.

In addition, the researchers found that honeypot honey has a very different action mechanism in comparison to other well-known honey used medicinally, like Manuka which is used to treat wounds and burns.

“Our research shows that honeypot ant honey possesses a distinctive effect that sets it apart from other types of honey,” explained Dr. Fernandes.

“This discovery means that honeypot ant honey could contain compounds with substantial antimicrobial power; identifying these could provide us with starting points for developing new and different types of antibiotics.”

They also found that the ants’ honey is very effective against the Staphylococcus aureus, as well as the fungi Aspergillus and Cryptococcus.

Integral to their research was Danny Ulrich from the Tjupan language group, who is leading tour groups for honeypot ants in Kalgoorlie. Mr. Ulrich helped the scientists find the respective specimens in the region.

“For our people, honey ants are more than just a food source. Digging for them is a very enjoyable way of life and a way of bringing the family together,” said Mr. Ulrich.

“Our people have been enjoying sweet honey ants for thousands of years.

“As for its medicinal use, we use it for sore throats and sometimes as a topical ointment to help keep infections at bay.”

What Are Honeypot Ants 

Honeypot ants (also known as honey ants) are a type of ant species that have unique and fascinating behaviour of storing food and liquid in their bodies, acting as living food storage units for their colonies.

Honeypot ants are found in various regions around the world, including parts of Australia, North and South America, and Africa. Different species of honeypot ants can be found in these different regions, but they all share the common trait of food storage through repletes.

The worker ants of the honeypot ant species are tasked with foraging for food, especially during times when food is abundant. They collect nectar, sap, and other sugary substances from plants and trees. However, instead of consuming all the food they collect immediately, some worker ants serve as living storage vessels for their fellow ants.

The worker ants consume large quantities of the collected food until their abdomens become massively distended and swollen. These swollen worker ants are known as “repletes” or “honeypots.”

Once their abdomens are fully engorged, the repletes return to the colony and hang from the ceilings of chambers or nests. Other ants in the colony then have access to the stored food by feeding from the repletes.

When other worker ants need nourishment, they tap the repletes with their antennae, stimulating them to regurgitate the stored food. The other ants then consume this liquid, allowing them to sustain themselves during times when food sources might be scarce or difficult to find.

Honeypot ants play a crucial role in the survival of their colonies, acting as living food reserves that can sustain the entire community during times of food scarcity or extreme weather conditions.

It is thought the ants have developed this unique adaptation to cope with the challenges of their arid environments, where food availability can be unpredictable.

First Nation People Use Of Honeypot Ants’ Honey 

The use of honey from honeypot ants by First Nations people is a traditional practice that has been passed down through generations in certain indigenous communities, particularly in some parts of Australia.

For the First Nations people in areas where honeypot ants are present, the ants and their stored honey have been a valuable food source. They are often considered a delicacy and are harvested during specific times of the year when the ants are most abundant, and their repletes are full.

The harvesting process typically involves locating the ant colonies and carefully extracting the repletes without harming the ants or the colony. The collected honeypot ants are then consumed fresh, and the sweet nectar stored in their bodies is either sucked directly from the ant or removed and stored for later use.

Beyond their nutritional value, honeypot ants have cultural significance for some indigenous communities. They may be part of traditional ceremonies, storytelling, or other cultural practices that have been preserved over time.

“This study demonstrates that honeypot ant honey has unique antimicrobial characteristics that validate its therapeutic use by Indigenous peoples,” Prof. Dee Carter, who oversees the Carter lab said.

“Taking something that has been honed by evolution to work in nature and then applying this to human health is a great way to come up with therapeutic strategies.”

The research has been published in PeerJ.