Winnenden fights against aggressive ants: city sounds the alarm!

Winnenden fights against aggressive ants: city sounds the alarm!

Lately, the city of Winnenden has been battling an increasingly annoying problem: the invasive ant species “Tapinoma magnum,” which is affecting more and more communities and cities in Germany. How ZVW reports, the city administration of Winnenden has now taken measures to control the activity of these aggressive ants. The mayor of Landau in der Pfalz reported that the city has been dealing with this issue for weeks and that citizens are increasingly complaining about inadequate measures.

The occurrence of “Tapinoma magnum” in Baden-Württemberg was recently confirmed. How Esslingen.de As described in detail, the ants do not pose a direct threat to humans, but can cause significant damage to infrastructure and buildings. Examples include occurrences in Kehl, where nests led to power outages.

The problem of Tapinoma magnum

The “Tapinoma magnum” has its origins in the Mediterranean region and has now spread to Cologne and Hanover daily news determines. The federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse are particularly affected by this invasive species. The ants form so-called supercolonies, which include several queens and thousands of workers. This makes them particularly difficult to combat because they often look like native ants.

The vexing problem is also compounded by the fact that there is currently no established means of combating “Tapinoma magnum”. Although the ants do not transmit diseases, they can cause allergies and cause massive damage to electronics and buildings. An example from Kehl shows how a playground was closed to prevent accidents due to incidents attributed to the ants.

Control and prevention measures

Cities like Esslingen already have strategies in place to control the spread of ants. These include treatment methods with special gel as well as a detailed examination of the affected areas. Residents are asked to report suspected cases with photos to the Stuttgart Natural History Museum. If nests are suspected in private households, experts recommend prevention with hot water, while professional pest control is recommended in cases of regular control.

In addition, tips were given to prevent further ants from settling: These include checking when purchasing plants, avoiding compostable food waste and properly disposing of garden waste.

In summary, the challenges associated with the “Tapinoma magnum” represent much more than just a local nuisance. The affected cities, especially Winnenden, are faced with the challenge of educating citizens as best as possible and taking appropriate control measures to counter the growing threat posed by this invasive ant species.