Stats

Lifespan: Up to 1 yr (workers)
Size: Large
Diet: Omnivore
Activity: Nocturnal
Social: Colony
Biome: Tropical rainforest
Range: Central and South America
Movement: Walking
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Venom
Status: Uncommon

About

The bullet ant earns its name from a sting rated #1 on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index — described as pure, intense, brilliant pain — that lasts up to 24 hours. These large ants live in colonies at the base of trees in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Paraponera
Species: Paraponera clavata