The Scarlet Velvet Ant, which is actually a type of wasp, has a sting so painful that it feels like hot oil spilling over your hand.
While its venom doesn’t kill, it delivers an intense burning sensation, making it one of the most painful stings in the animal kingdom. But what makes it so excruciating?
A new study in Current Biology explores this mystery.
Velvet ants use their sting primarily as a defense mechanism rather than a way to kill prey. Along with their bright red-and-black color, their sting warns predators to stay away.
Found in the southern and eastern U.S., these wasps live in dry, sandy environments and are often spotted searching for nectar or insect hosts.
To understand how their venom works, researchers studied fruit flies, a common model for biological research. They discovered that the venom interacts with pain-sensing nerve cells called nociceptors, which detect harmful stimuli like heat or pressure.
The study identified a key venom ingredient: a peptide called Do6a. Peptides are small chains of amino acids, and this one specifically activates ion channels—proteins in cells that allow charged particles to pass through, triggering nerve impulses.
Interestingly, the same ion channels exist in both insects and mammals, showing how different species share similar ways of processing pain. However, velvet ant venom affects insects and mammals differently. While Do6a strongly activates pain sensors in insects, in mammals, other compounds in the venom trigger pain responses in a less direct way.
To confirm the venom’s effects, scientists observed how praying mantises reacted when stung. The mantises immediately avoided the ants, proving the venom’s role as a powerful insect deterrent. When researchers removed the specific ion channels from fruit flies, the flies no longer responded to the venom—confirming that these channels are essential for the sting’s painful effects.
When testing the venom on mice, scientists found that Do6a had no effect, while other venom components triggered pain responses like licking or flinching. This suggests that the velvet ant’s venom has evolved to target different animals in different ways.
This study not only helps us understand nature’s defenses but could also influence medical research. Since velvet ant venom targets specific pain pathways, scientists believe it could lead to new pain treatments for humans.
“Understanding how venom interacts with pain receptors could help us develop better painkillers,” says Luana Assis Ferreira, a researcher at Indiana University.
Velvet ants have evolved an amazingly precise defense system, proving once again that nature is full of surprising adaptations—and that studying them can lead to new scientific breakthroughs.
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