Q 01/05

The bullet ant tops Schmidt's index; what does the word bullet in its name refer to?

A) The pain of being shot

B) Its bullet-shaped body

C) Its speed when attacking

D) The snap of its jaws

Answer · why

A) The pain of being shot

The pain of being shot is how some victims describe the sting, and it keeps coming in burning, throbbing waves for up to a full day.

Q 02/05

The Sateré-Mawé people weave live bullet ants into which item for an initiation rite?

A) Headbands

B) Belts

C) Gloves

D) Necklaces

Answer · why

C) Gloves

Gloves woven from leaves hold the ants with their stingers facing inward, and the initiate's arm can be left shaking for days afterwards.

Q 03/05

The tarantula hawk, top-rated on Schmidt's pain index, is the official insect of which US state?

A) Arizona

B) California

C) New Mexico

D) Nevada

Answer · why

C) New Mexico

New Mexico adopted it in 1989 after elementary-school children researched state insects and ran a statewide ballot of schools.

Q 04/05

Which satirical science award did Justin Schmidt share in 2015 for creating his sting pain index?

A) Darwin Award

B) Ig Nobel Prize

C) Golden Fleece Award

D) Pigasus Award

Answer · why

B) Ig Nobel Prize

The Ig Nobel Prize honours research that first makes people laugh and then makes them think, and its citation praised him for painstakingly creating t...

Q 05/05

Michael Smith, honoured with Justin Schmidt in 2015, took stings on 25 body parts; which hurt most?

A) Skull

B) Upper arm

C) Middle toe

D) Nostril

Answer · why

D) Nostril

The nostril topped his ratings along with the upper lip, while the skull, the tip of the middle toe and the upper arm hurt least.