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Red alert: Mediterranean ants threaten Hesse and its infrastructure!
Experts warn that the invasion of the Mediterranean ant Tapinoma in Hesse poses a significant threat to the infrastructure.
Red alert: Mediterranean ants threaten Hesse and its infrastructure!
A new threat is spreading in Germany: TheLarge glandular ant(Tapinoma magnum), which originally comes from the Mediterranean region, has left its unsightly calling card in Hesse. These invasive ant species were spotted for the first time in Darmstadt and the population immediately alerted the experts. These warn urgently about the dangers posed by ants – not only for nature, but also for our infrastructure.
The Tapinoma ants form supercolonies consisting of millions of individuals. These enormous colonies are not only impressive, they are also a real problem. During their invasive advances, the ants penetrate buildings and cause damage to the technical infrastructure. Power and internet outages have already been detected, and not just in Hesse.An example from Offenburg in Badenshows how dramatic the situation can become: A children's playground had to close due to safety concerns, and the ants have also been spotted in schools in Hesse.
The spread of Tapinoma magnum
TheIntrudershave not only settled in Hesse. They have now also been detected in cities such as Cologne and Hanover. Other federal states such as Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and eastern France, where the ants have long been documented, are particularly affected. Experts see an increasing threat to many regions of Germany because the ants arrived in the area via plant transport - an almost invisible invasion that does not endanger the ecosystem but is still classified as a pest.
Due to its adaptability and behavior of forming huge colonies, controlling Tapinoma magnum remains a major challenge. These ants look deceptively similar to our native species and Tapinoma magnum is not yet officially listed as invasive. While the Federal Environment Ministry sees no threat to native species, the pressure on nature conservation authorities to develop effective control strategies is increasing.
Public engagement and expert advice
Ergo, collaboration between citizens and scientists is essential.A team of natural history museumsin Stuttgart and Karlsruhe is engaged in the scientific study of invasive ant species and calls on the population to document and report finds of Tapinoma magnum. Despite the complexity of the fight, experts are optimistic that with joint efforts, solutions can be found to get rid of the annoying pests.
The situation highlights the importance of being vigilant when it comes to the environment. Nature remains unpredictable and sometimes you have to keep your eyes open in order to recognize disaster and damage in good time before it gets out of hand. These brave little invaders have achieved at least one thing: they remind us that we should always have a good hand for nature conservation so that we can continue to live in an intact environment in the future.