Bolivian Villagers Punished Thieves with Swarms of Venomous Ants
It's nearing the midnight hour on this special blood moon evening on the East Coast, but whatever time it is where you are—day or night—prepare yourself for horror. Near Cochabamba, Bolivia, two men who stole motorbikes from nearby Amazon villagers, were tied up to two trees and tortured ruthlessly by venomous ants.
In a form of punishment that is the stuff to fuel a thousand nightmares, the two men were held for nearly three days until family members came to repay the $3,700 for the stolen motorbikes.
The venomous ants, of the pseudomyrmex triplarinus species, live in symbiosis with the triplaris tree variety. Their venom has anti-inflammatory properties and is used as a traditional cure for arthritis.
Both alleged thieves nearly died from the punishment, and one remains in intensive care.
