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What the sources say

Bullet AntParaponera clavata

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Bullet Ant profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 43 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Natural History Museum, London

What on Earth? The Schmidt sting pain index. Natural History Museum, London.

The page saysrated level four, the top of Schmidt's pain scale
The source saysSchmidt's pain scale runs from one to four, with four being the most painful.
The page saysrated level four, the top of the Schmidt Sting Pain Index
The source saysSchmidt's pain scale runs from one to four, with four being the most painful.
The page saysdangerLevel: Extreme
The source saysSchmidt's pain scale runs from one to four, with four being the most painful.Note: Judgment call, not a stated figure: the tier reflects the sting's top-of-scale pain rating. No source in the pack states a fatality risk, and the page claims none.
The page saysEntomologist Justin Schmidt rated and described the pain of insect venoms from his own experience of being stung, on a scale that runs from one to four
The source saysEntomologist Justin Schmidt recorded his own experience of venomous stings, to rate and describe the pain caused by the venom of insects. ... Schmidt's pain scale runs from one to four, with four being the most painful.
The page saysThe bullet ant sits at pain level four, the most painful, beside the warrior wasp and the tarantula hawk wasp
The source saysSchmidt's pain scale runs from one to four, with four being the most painful. ... Pain level 4 Warrior wasp, Synoeca septentrionalis ... Bullet ant, Paraponera clavata ... Tarantula hawk wasp, Pepsis speciesNote: Level four holds three species on this page, so the sentence names them rather than implying the bullet ant stands alone at the top.
The page saysPure, intense, brilliant pain. Like walking over flaming charcoal with a three-inch nail embedded in your heel.
The source saysBullet ant, Paraponera clavata “Pure, intense, brilliant pain. Like walking over flaming charcoal with a three-inch nail embedded in your heel.”
The page saysa sting rated 4, the top of Schmidt's pain scale
The source saysSchmidt's pain scale runs from one to four, with four being the most painful.Note: vibe.reason (#628)

Source
02

Aili et al. 2020

Aili et al. (2020). An Integrated Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Venom Complexity of the Bullet Ant Paraponera clavata. Toxins.

The page saysin cockroaches keeps nerve cells firing past the point where they should stop
The source saysPoneratoxin elicits neurotoxic activity in cockroaches by prolonging action potentials and generating slow repetitive activity by inducing a voltage-activated sodium channel (Na V 1.7) current with slowed inactivation at negative potentialsNote: The assay scope 'in cockroaches' is kept: the source states no effect on a human nervous system.
The page saysAt more than two centimeters long
The source saysParaponera clavata is a large ant species (>2 cm in length) found in the New World tropics
The page saysThe most abundant component of that venom is poneratoxin, a molecule built from just 25 amino acids
The source saysponeratoxin, a 25-residue peptide, and the most abundant component of the venomNote: 'residue' is the standard term for an amino acid unit in a peptide chain, put in plain language.
The page saysPoneratoxin is the most abundant component of bullet ant venom, a molecule built from just 25 amino acids
The source saysponeratoxin, a 25-residue peptide, and the most abundant component of the venom
The page saysIn cockroaches it induces a current through a voltage-activated sodium channel, one of the tiny gates nerve cells use to fire electrical signals, and that current is slow to switch off: nerve impulses are prolonged and the nerve fires slowly and repeatedly
The source saysPoneratoxin elicits neurotoxic activity in cockroaches by prolonging action potentials and generating slow repetitive activity by inducing a voltage-activated sodium channel (Na V 1.7) current with slowed inactivation at negative potentialsNote: NaV1.7 is a named subtype of voltage-activated sodium channel; the page keeps the source's cockroach scope and does not carry the result over to a human.
The page saysSeveral other components of the venom remain uncharacterised
The source saysthere are several other components in this venom that remain uncharacterised
The page saysinfamous for inflicting the most painful sting among the ants, bees and wasps
The source saysthe bullet ant, P. clavata, which is infamous for inflicting the most painful sting among the HymenopteraNote: Hymenoptera is the insect order holding ants, bees and wasps.
The page saysIn cockroaches it induces a current through a voltage-activated sodium channel with slowed inactivation, prolonging nerve impulses and making the nerve fire slowly and repeatedly
The source saysPoneratoxin elicits neurotoxic activity in cockroaches by prolonging action potentials and generating slow repetitive activity by inducing a voltage-activated sodium channel (Na V 1.7) current with slowed inactivation at negative potentialsNote: the FAQ's shorter wording of the same finding; NaV1.7 is a named subtype of voltage-activated sodium channel, and the cockroach scope is kept.
The page saysa venom whose poneratoxin keeps a cockroach's nerve cells firing past the point where they should stop
The source saysPoneratoxin elicits neurotoxic activity in cockroaches by prolonging action potentials and generating slow repetitive activity by inducing a voltage-activated sodium channel (Na V 1.7) current with slowed inactivation at negative potentialsNote: vibe.reason (#628)

Source
03

Murphy & Breed 2007

Murphy & Breed (2007). A Predictive Distribution Map for the Giant Tropical Ant, Paraponera clavata. Journal of Insect Science.

The page saysmost commonly sea level to 750 m
The source saysCollectors found P. clavata most commonly in lowland habitats, at elevations from sea level to 750 meters
The page saysfrom Nicaragua south to Bolivia and Brazil
The source sayshaving been collected from Nicaragua in the north to Bolivia and Brazil at its southern limit
The page saysthe ant entomologists call the giant tropical ant
The source saysThe giant tropical ant, Paraponera clavata (Fabricius 1775) (Formicidae: Paraponerinae), is one of the most visible Neotropical insects
The page saysBullet ants live in lowland rainforest from Nicaragua south to Bolivia and Brazil
The source sayshaving been collected from Nicaragua in the north to Bolivia and Brazil at its southern limit
The page saysmost commonly from sea level up to 750 meters
The source saysCollectors found P. clavata most commonly in lowland habitats, at elevations from sea level to 750 meters
The page saysColonies typically nest in soil at the base of rainforest trees, though nests have also been reported in soil collected in tree crotches and, in at least one case, out on treeless dry tropical savanna
The source saysP. clavata typically nests in soil at the base of rainforest trees, although nests have also been reported in soil accumulations in tree crotches ... and in at least one case in treeless Campo Cerrado, dry tropical savanna interspersed with woody shrubs
The page saysIn lowland rainforest, from Nicaragua in the north to Bolivia and Brazil at the southern limit
The source sayshaving been collected from Nicaragua in the north to Bolivia and Brazil at its southern limit
The page saysNests are usually in soil at the base of a rainforest tree, though they have also been reported in soil collected in tree crotches, and in at least one case out on treeless dry tropical savanna
The source saysP. clavata typically nests in soil at the base of rainforest trees, although nests have also been reported in soil accumulations in tree crotches ... and in at least one case in treeless Campo Cerrado, dry tropical savanna interspersed with woody shrubs

Source
04

Haddad Junior, Cardoso & Moraes 2005

Haddad Junior, Cardoso & Moraes (2005). Description of an injury in a human caused by a false tocandira (Dinoponera gigantea, Perty, 1833) with a revision on folkloric, pharmacological and clinical aspects of the giant ants of the genera Paraponera and Dinoponera (sub-family Ponerinae). Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo.

The page saysone of the giant ants known in Brazil as the twenty-four-hour ants
The source saysTHE GIANT ANTS OF THE GENERA Paraponera AND Dinoponera ... like the tocandiras (tucandeiras, cabo-verde ants, vinte e cuatro horas ants or bullet ants) which are capable to apply extremely painful stingsNote: Group scope, kept in the text: the source lists 'vinte e cuatro horas ants' (Portuguese for twenty-four-hour ants) as one of several names for the tocandiras, the giant ponerine ants of the genera Paraponera and Dinoponera, and names 'bullet ants' as another name for the same group. The paper is Brazilian and says the group is 'present in the whole country'. The source spells the Spanish 'cuatro'.
The page saysIn Brazil the bullet ant is the true tocandira
The source saysThey are present in the whole country and the most important species are Paraponera clavata (the true Tocandira)
The page saysone of a group of stinging ants known there as the twenty-four-hour ants
The source sayslike the tocandiras (tucandeiras, cabo-verde ants, vinte e cuatro horas ants or bullet ants) which are capable to apply extremely painful stingsNote: The name is the group's, not this species' alone, and the sentence says so.
The page saysPain is the main symptom of a tocandira sting, extremely violent and capable of staying for periods of up to 24 hours
The source saysThe pain, however, is the main symptom and characteristic of the sting, being extremely violent and capable of staying for periods of up to 24 hoursNote: Group scope: the sentence is the paper's description of a tocandira sting (Paraponera and Dinoponera), not of the Dinoponera gigantea case report, and not of P. clavata alone. The page names the group as the subject.
The page saysThese are not aggressive ants, but they are vicious defending the nest, making a stridulating sound and stinging with ferocity
The source saysThey are not aggressive ants, but are vicious when defending the nest, when they do a stridulating sound and sting with ferocityNote: Group scope: 'These' refers to the tocandiras named in the two sentences before it, which is the source's subject (the ponerine ants of both genera).
The page saysThe Sateré-Mawé of the Brazilian Amazon use the tocandiras, especially this species, in rituals of passage to adult age
The source saysThe tocandiras, especially the Amazonian specie Paraponera clavata (Fabricius, 1775) (Fig. 1) are used in rituals of passage for adult age in Sateré-Mawé, a tribe of near 7000 Amazonian Indians
The page saysChildren from about the age of 12 put a hand inside a glove of liana
The source saysThe children starting from the 12 years put the hand in a type of liana glove
The page saysholding up to 300 ants
The source saysThey are put up to 300 ants in the glove for the pain resistance test to the stings.Note: Figure 2's caption, describing the same ceremonial glove as the body text.
The page saysfor close to 30 minutes
The source sayswith a great number of tocandiras for a period of near 30 minutes
The page saysA young person who withstands the pain can go on to hold leadership positions in the tribe
The source saysThe young Indian that supports the pain can exercise leadership positions in the tribe.
The page saystradition has them pass through the ritual 25 times over a lifetime to be respected by the oldest
The source saysDuring the life the Indian has to pass for the ritual 25 times to be respected by the oldest
The page saysRituals of passage to adult age among the Sateré-Mawé of the Brazilian Amazon use the tocandiras, especially this species
The source saysThe tocandiras, especially the Amazonian specie Paraponera clavata (Fabricius, 1775) (Fig. 1) are used in rituals of passage for adult age in Sateré-Mawé, a tribe of near 7000 Amazonian IndiansNote: the same sentence as the body's, reordered; the group scope (tocandiras) and the source's 'especially' are kept.
The page saysA young person who withstands the pain can hold leadership positions in the tribe
The source saysThe young Indian that supports the pain can exercise leadership positions in the tribe.
The page saystradition has them pass through the ritual 25 times to be respected by the oldest
The source saysDuring the life the Indian has to pass for the ritual 25 times to be respected by the oldest

Source
05

Fewell et al. 1996

Fewell et al. (1996). Foraging energetics of the ant, Paraponera clavata. Oecologia.

The page saysNectar and insect prey
The source saysThe B/C ratio was 3.9 for nectar-foragers and 67 for insect prey foragersNote: stats.diet: the abstract's two forager roles are the basis for naming nectar and insect prey.
The page saysSome workers forage for nectar and others carry back insect prey
The source saysThe B/C ratio was 3.9 for nectar-foragers and 67 for insect prey foragersNote: The abstract measures two forager roles in this species; the page names the roles and no figure from them.

Source
06

Dyer & Floyd 1993

Dyer & Floyd (1993). Determinants of predation on phytophagous insects: the importance of diet breadth. Oecologia.

The page sayscaterpillars, taken selectively
The source sayswe offered lepidopteran larvae to colonies of the tropical ant Paraponera clavata ... Late instar caterpillars were rejected more frequently than early instars, hairy caterpillars were rejected more frequently than caterpillars with other morphologies
The page saysoffered caterpillars, they reject hairy ones more often than caterpillars of other shapes, and late-stage larvae more often than early ones
The source saysLate instar caterpillars were rejected more frequently than early instars, hairy caterpillars were rejected more frequently than caterpillars with other morphologiesNote: 'late instar' and 'early instar' are put as late-stage and early larvae; the source's comparison is rejection frequency, which the page keeps.

Source
07

Fewell et al. 1992

Fewell et al. (1992). Distance effects on resource profitability and recruitment in the giant tropical ant, Paraponera clavata. Oecologia.

The page saysOffered nectar far from home, foragers recruit help from the canopy rather than from the nest, and often hand the nectar to other workers to carry back, which cuts the time the colony needs to collect it
The source saysForagers at distant sites recruited from the canopy rather than from the nest, and often transferred nectar to other workers for transport to the nest. Nectar transfer and extra-nidal recruitment significantly reduced the time required for resource collection.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.