Red alert: Dangerous ant threatens Baden-Württemberg!

Red alert: Dangerous ant threatens Baden-Württemberg!

In the last few months, an extremely unpleasant surprise has been spreading in Germany: the invasive species of antsTapinoma magnum. Originally from North Africa, this ant is a real nuisance. It is causing a stir, especially in Baden-Württemberg Mercury reported. In Kehl, among other places, it penetrates houses and leads to power and internet outages. It also damages garden walls, which understandably upsets local residents.

The spread of such species is not an isolated case. In regions along the Rhine and especially in cities like Stuttgart and EsslingenTapinoma magnumalready widespread. In Tübingen, too, residents on Beethovenstrasse are desperately fighting against the little pests. A biology teacher even found a colony there and had it confirmed by the Natural History Museum.

Alert in Tübingen

The city of Tübingen is reacting to the situation with concern. Lukas Haderlein from the public order office explains that the exchange between the affected citizens is of the utmost importance. Local authorities have already initiated measures to combat these ants. Work is currently underway to adapt spray devices to inject hot water deep into the earth. The priority is to protect critical infrastructure such as schools, kindergartens and hospitals.

Above all, the way it worksTapinoma magnumis remarkable. These ants are quite small, measuring 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters, and often exhibit high mobility, especially when forming large colonies. They are known to travel en masse on multi-lane ant trails and accumulate large amounts of sand at nest entrances, such as MDR points out.

A curious smell of danger

Another distinguishing feature of this species is the smell: crushed ants leave behind a rancid, buttery, slightly sour scent. For reliable identification, it is recommended to place a sugar solution or syrup on checked paper to attract the ants. After a while you can take photos for more precise identification.

The situation is further complicated by the fact thatTapinoma magnumis one of the so-called super colonies, which consist of pure offshoots. Such colonies live peacefully next to each other, which allows them to quickly conquer new territories. But it's not just this species that has a negative impact on the environment; many other invasive ants, such as the red fire ant, the Argentine ant or the yellow spider ant, cause similar problems and pose a serious threat to ecosystems, such as RiffReporter explained.

Politicians in Baden-Württemberg have reacted and want to take a closer look at the ant with the support of state natural history museums in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. The aim is not only to contain the current spread, but also to better understand the far-reaching ecological, economic and health damage that invasive ant species can cause.