Red alert: Invasive ants threaten Heilbronn and the surrounding area!

Red alert: Invasive ants threaten Heilbronn and the surrounding area!

The discovery of a new, invasive ant species in the Kehl area is causing excitement. It is the Forgotten Garden Ant (Lasius neglectus), which could cause problems not only regionally, but also in the wider area around Heilbronn. Loud echo24 This ant species has already been spotted in cities such as Karlsruhe-Knielingen as well as in Pleidelsheim, Wehr and Bad Säckingen. There are great concerns about these super colonies because they can cause all sorts of problems in our homes and apartments.

The Forgotten Garden Ant forms massive super colonies with billions of workers and millions of queens. These colonies can grow so large that they may even lead to power and internet outages, as already observed in Kehl. Controversy surrounding their impact on biodiversity is also growing as there are fears that they could displace native ant species. The species has not yet been discovered in the Heilbronn area, but this could only be a matter of time.

The biological background

TheLasius neglectusbelongs to the genus of ants and is a polygynous species. Its origin is believed to be in Asia Minor, and the first colony was described in Budapest in 1990. Workers of this species are between 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm, while queens reach around 6 mm. These ants are characterized by their uniform brown color and their hairless antennae and tibia. The supercolonies have a worrying ability to spread: there were only 30 known populations in Europe in 2000, but by 2015 the number had risen to an impressive 175.

Thanks to their peculiar way of life, the ants can thrive in urban habitats and spread easily through human activities such as transplanting plants. The main risks are particularly because they can significantly impact local insect populations: some estimates show that the number of native ant species could be exceeded by a factor of 10 to 100. This invasive trend is not new, as shown by other species such as the Argentine ant or the red fire ant, which cause similar problems.

Prevention and control

To prevent the spread of the forgotten garden ant, it is important to take appropriate measures. In communities like Heilbronn, where rats and bed bugs are also a problem, a combination of control methods is recommended. These vary depending on the type and severity of the infestation and range from hot water to ant bait, although these are not sustainable solutions.

Social mindfulness is particularly important in urban areas. The natural history museums in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe are working on a research project on the distribution of the ant speciesTapinoma magnumto gain a better understanding of the behaviors and potential harm. Conscious action is the order of the day to stand up to invasive species.

The situation surrounding the forgotten garden ant makes us realize how dynamic and fragile our ecosystems are. While it is currently unclear what long-term impacts this invasive species may have on local biodiversities, we must be aware of them. Because one thing is certain: the ants are coming.