Most toxic insect venom

The most toxic insect venom is produced by the Maricopa harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex maricopa), a stinging species of harvester ant native to Arizona, USA. Its LD50 value (the dosage required to kill 50% of mice subjected to it) is 0.12 mg/kg when injected intravenously into mice. This is equivalent to 12 stings killing a rat weighing 2 kg.

These findings were detailed in a 1980 comparative study of stinging hymenoptera (a group of insects including ants, bees and wasps), published in the journal Toxicon. The study was led by American insect sting expert Dr Justin O'Schmidt.