more evidence, from a linked research paper.... "Worldwide there are several very different kinds of ants that exhibit extreme repletism; all are properly called honey ants. One outstanding group; the genus Myrmecocystus, occurs exclusively in western North America. Myrmecocystus contains a diverse ensemblage of at least 28 closely related species, many of which are broadly distributed."
http://www.sasionline.org/antsfiles/pages/honeyants/honey.html I believe it is the honeypot ant. >From Wikepedia I found this: Myrmecocystus nests are found in a variety of arid or semi-aridenvironments. Some species live in extremely hot deserts, others residein transitional habitats, and still other species can be found inwoodlands where it is somewhat cool but still very dry for a large partof the year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_ant ROCKHUGGER Andy Zenker Texas Caver --- On Tue, 9/16/08, Louise Power <power_lou...@hotmail.com> wrote: From: Louise Power <power_lou...@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [Texascavers] Photobucket of Caving Pictures (South Austin) To: andyzen...@yahoo.com List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 4:18 PM Andy, What was that big orange ant-looking thing with the huge abdomen from Deep?
