Paraponera clavata- the famous "bullet ant"- is one of the largest ants in the world.

Misahaullí, Napo, Ecuador
The fearsome Paraponera clavata bullet ant is reputed to impart the most painful sting of any insect. This worker, however, was content to walk about on my hand without showing any aggression.

Misahaullí, Napo, Ecuador
Paraponera clavata- the famous "bullet ant"- is one of the largest ants in the world.

Misahaullí, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Ant colonies usually start small.  Here a young bull ant queen (Myrmecia pyriformis) tends to a larva in her incipient nest.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Predator and prey: Myrmecia pyriformis with a european hornet.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Myrmecia pyriformis
Dinoponera australis, posing on a page from William Morton Wheeler's classic 1910 text "Ants: their structure, development, and behavior".

Misiones, Argentina
Paraponera clavata- the famous "bullet ant"- is one of the largest ants in the world.

Misahaullí, Napo, Ecuador
Paraponera clavata- the famous "bullet ant"- is one of the largest ants in the world.

Misahaullí, Napo, Ecuador
Paraponera clavata- the famous "bullet ant"- is one of the largest ants in the world.

Misahaullí, Napo, Ecuador
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013