Would you rather bite the bullet or get stung by this huge bullet ant? Bullet ant venom is made of poneratoxin, a neurotoxic peptide. The entomologist, Justin O. Schmidt described the pain from this ant's sting as a 4+, the highest rating in the Schmidt sting pain index . "...like walking over flaming charcoal with a three-inch nail embedded in your heel" Ouch! . . The Satere-Mawe people in the Amazon use these ants for a coming-of-age ceremony. Boys place bullet ants in gloves that they then wear. They must wear the gloves 20 times for 10 minutes each, in order to finish the ceremony. . . . __ Special thanks to graduate student, Chris Wilson for this suggestion for Formicidae Friday! #ouch #bulletants #ants #Paroponera #clavata #toxins #venom #entomology #myrmecology #amazon #insects #itsallgoodep #instaeptx #elpaso411 #museumlife #naturalhistory #insectsofinstagram #specimens #formicidaefriday https://www.instagram.com/p/BoAAd-nDKIE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1g2r2rlf0iblu
