The bullet ant, scientifically known as Paraponera clavata, is a large ant species notorious for its powerful and painful sting. These insects are sometimes referred to by local names such as the “24-hour ant” due to the extended duration of the pain following an encounter. The Schmidt Sting Pain Index formally recognizes the sting of P. clavata at the highest level, 4+, describing the sensation as pure, intense pain.
Geographic Range Across Central and South America
The geographical distribution of the bullet ant is confined exclusively to the wet Neotropical regions spanning Central and South America. Their range extends from the northern limits in Central American countries down through the Amazon basin. Specifically, the ants can be found in Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama in the north.
Moving south, their presence is confirmed across the northern and western parts of South America, including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The distribution continues to cover Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and the Guianas (French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname), establishing a wide habitat across the humid tropics.
Preferred Habitat and Colony Location
Bullet ants inhabit the lowland tropical and subtropical rainforests, favoring environments that are consistently moist and humid. They thrive in dense, wet forest ecosystems, typically at elevations ranging from sea level up to about 750 meters. While most colonies are found in these lower areas, some individuals have been collected at higher elevations, occasionally reaching up to 1,500 meters.
The ants are often found foraging on the forest floor, but they are also highly arboreal, with workers climbing high up into the forest canopy. Colonies are usually established in the soil at the base of large trees, or sometimes within hollow trunks or under large roots. Nesting at the base of a tree provides a protected location and grants workers easy access to the vertical foraging routes of the canopy. Mature colonies can contain several hundred individuals.
Key Identification Features and Sting Context
Identifying the bullet ant is possible due to its considerable size and distinctive coloring. Worker ants are quite large, measuring between 18 and 30 millimeters in length, making them one of the largest ant species globally. They have a robust body structure and a color that ranges from a deep reddish-black to dark brown.
The ants possess prominent mandibles and a large stinger at the tip of their abdomen. This stinger delivers venom containing a potent neurotoxic peptide called poneratoxin. The sting’s primary function is a defense mechanism for the colony, deterring predators with pain that can last for 12 to 24 hours. The neurotoxin acts by blocking nerve transmission, creating the intense, throbbing pain that has earned the ant its common name.