Paraponera

Paraponera is a genus of ants and the only genus in the subfamily Paraponerinae. The name means "near-Ponera".

It consists of two species: the extant Paraponera clavata, also known as a bullet ant, found in the Neotropics, and the very small fossil species Paraponera dieteri known from Dominican amber (Early Miocene; 16-19 million years ago). Bullet ants are so named for the pain caused by their venomous stings. The intensely painful sting is toxic to invertebrates as well as vertebrates and a major component is the neurotoxic peptide poneratoxin.

Species

 * Paraponera clavata (Fabricius, 1775)
 * †Paraponera dieteri Baroni Urbani, 1994