In the tree tops of South America live one of the strangest insects: Bullet Ants. Bullet Ants have extremely painful stings due to their small amount of very potent poison. In fact, they have the second most painful sting in the world, second only to the Tarantula Hornet. To give you an idea of how painful the Bullet Ant’s sting is, imagine being shot with a bullet. This is where bullet ants get their name! The sting of one Bullet Ant is not fatal for humans, but the searing pain can last for up to twenty-four hours. Bullet Ants use this paralyzing poison as a defense against predators.
Bullet Ants live in colonies at the base of trees in South America. Workers climb up the trees to get food, such as nectar, which they bring back down to feed their colony. Bullet ants can be up to one inch long, so be careful! If you find yourself in South America, watch out for these tiny terrors, and stay a good distance away from them.
