Satere-Mawe maturity rites use the Bullet Ant. The most painful insect sting known.
Paraponera is a genus of ponerine ant. The most infamous member species is the so-called bullet ant (P. clavata), named on account of its powerful and potent sting, the sensation of which has often been likened with that of being shot with a bullet by those who have had the misfortune to be at its receiving end. It is called by the locals, Hormiga Veinticuatro, from 24 hours of pain that follow a stinging.
The pain caused by this insect's sting is greater than that of any other Hymenopteran, and is ranked as the most painful according to the Schmidt Sting Pain Index.
Bullet ants are used by some indigenous people in their initiation rites to manhood. The ants are first knocked out by drowning them in a natural chloroform, and then hundreds of them are woven into sleeves made out of leaves, stinger facing inward. When the ants come to, boys slip the sleeve down onto their arm.
The goal of this initiation rite is to keep the sleeve on for a full ten minutes without showing any signs of pain. When finished, the boys' (now men) arms are temporarily paralyzed because of the venom, and they may shake uncontrollably for days.
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