The bullet ant gives the Sateré-Mawé initiation rite its common name, bullet ant initiation.
The bullet ant is a large Amazonian ant scientifically named Paraponera clavata. Sateré-Mawé initiates traditionally place numerous ants inside woven gloves and wear them while dancing. The ants’ stings create the ordeal associated with the rite, which is linked to courage, endurance, identity, and adult status.
The common name refers to the extreme pain of the sting, not to the insect’s appearance as a projectile. The bullet ant is also called the conga ant in some English-language sources. This initiation is frequently shown in documentaries, but outside descriptions can oversimplify it; the ritual’s meaning is cultural and communal, not merely a dare or pain contest.