Bullet Ant vs Twin-spot Centurion

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Bullet Ant Twin-spot Centurion
Scientific Name Paraponera clavata Sargus bipunctatus
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Formicidae Stratiomyidae
Size 18-30 mm 8-13 mm
Habitat Forests Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Central America, South America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Bullet Ant

Named for its extremely painful sting, rated 4+ on the Schmidt Pain Index. Indigenous Satere-Mawe people use them in warrior initiation rites. The pain can last 24 hours.

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Did You Know?

The bullet ants sting is the most painful of any insect — described as waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain that lasts up to 24 hours without any relief.

Twin-spot Centurion

A metallic bronze-green soldier fly with two characteristic pale spots on the frons. It is one of the most common stratiomyids in Europe, found basking on ivy flowers in autumn.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the last flies to be active in autumn, still visiting ivy flowers well into November.