Most dangerous ant

The most dangerous ant in the world is the bulldog ant (Myrmecia pyriformis) found in coastal regions of Australia, where it is largely nocturnal. In attack it uses its sting and jaws simultaneously. There have been at least three human fatalities since 1936, the latest a farmer based in Victoria in 1988.

The bulldog ant, aka bull ant, earned its common names because of its ferocity and determination during an attack. It is extremely aggressive and shows little fear of human beings, stinging a number of times in quick succession and therefore injecting more venom with each bite. In an attack, the ant will hold on to its victim with long, toothed mandibles, curl its body underneath and thrust its long barbless stinger into the skin. On a few occasions, this sting has been enough to kill adults within 15 minutes.

Worker bulldog ants average 20 mm (0.7 in) long, though the queen ants can reach up to double that size. The species was first formally documented by the British entomologist Frederick Smith in 1858.