Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Paraponerinae
Genus: Paraponera
Species: clavata
Distribution
Ants are found on all continents except Antarctica, Iceland, Greenland, and parts of Polynesia. Ants are able to exploit a wide range of food resources. P. clavata is found in parts of Central America and South America. The colonies usually consist of several hundred ants and are located at the bases of trees.
P. clavata, commonly known as the lesser giant hunting ant, or the bullet ant, is named for its sting. The bullet ant’s sting is so painful and potent, that scientists say the pain compares to being actually shot with a bullet. According to the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, the sting of the bullet ant is a 4+. The pain lasts for 24 hours and causes waves of burning, throbbing pain. The ant injects a neurotoxin in its venom. The toxin affects the voltage-dependent sodium ion channels and blocks synaptic transmission. The neurotoxin causes slow, but harsh contractions of muscles. Once the animal is stung it cannot control its own body and has to wait till the venom wears off.
Works cited
Steinua, Rick (2009). Bullet ant. Retrieved from http://www.asktheexterminator.com/ants/Bullet_Ant.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VarqiOM4-Fg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRLU3HpYoH8
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WOW! I'm glad I didn't have to wear gloves full of honey bees to be a venom hunter. That is crazy, especially when the pain is compared to a bullet wound.
ReplyDeleteIt made me wonder why their defense of venom has evolved so intensely? Who is their natural enemy?
Your post on Paraponera clavata is interesting. Ants are widely spread but as we know there are many species of ants. This one in particular seems harmful. This species seems to have a rather large body and pincher in comparison to other ants. The neurotoxin venom sounds very painful. The videos were neat and I learned a little about these creatures...Thank You!
ReplyDeleteClint H.
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that's scary that P. clavata's sting can compare to a shot of a bullet. I never thought it was even possible. It's good to know that in some continents ants don't exist. Maybe I should consider those places for vacationing. I thought you were going to do this blog on the tiger as well? well, thanks for sharing with us.( word count: 61)
ReplyDelete-Huyen