Marty’s photo of the day #2958: I photographed this bullet ant in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru. According to multiple studies, the bullet ant is the most venomous insect in the world, and it delivers the world’s most painful sting.
If you’ve read my first book, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents, you know that when we were in Zimbabwe Deb and I became two of the very few people to survive a hippo attack. You also know about the bullet ant: yes one stung me. It was so “thoughtful” of nature to provide me with some adventures to keep the story moving! During the 24 hours following the bullet ant sting, my calf felt like it was going to explode from the pressure built up by the venom. Then the pressure eased, and the only evidence of the sting was a big red welt that lasted for a month.