Anti plague in Sonderheim: Citizen urgently called for help!

Anti plague in Sonderheim: Citizen urgently called for help!

Sondernheim, Deutschland - In the past few weeks, the invasive ant tapinoma Magnum in Selheim, a district of the Germersheim community, has caused a significant excitement. Mayor Marcus Schaile reports 192 reports on the infestation, which is particularly visible in spring -like temperatures when the ants crawl out of their holes. In numerous places, including at the cemetery, the small pests and their characteristic sand piles can be clearly seen. They are specifically looking for food sources, which is particularly favored by organic waste that can be found in the neighboring properties. The city administration has already taken measures to combat and issued a leaflet.

Important steps to combat this ant type include the shortage of food sources and the strategic use of bait gel. The ants are remarkably noticeable, which means that changing the bait may be necessary. The Himalaya cedar and other trees with sweet fruits are particularly attractive to them. Since dead animals and fallen fruit also serve as food sources, they must be removed regularly to avoid further attraction.

measures and procedures

The city uses a hot water device on public areas, while homeowners are asked to kill ants with boiling water. A pest control will spend additional bait gels that are transported to the nest by the ants. The cost of fighting in Sonderheim amounts to around 50,000 euros. In order to prevent the spread of ants, a collection point for green waste was also set up at the train station. Local residents can hand in their green waste on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In other regions, such as in the Schutterwald, the situation has not made a much different way. The village in the Ortenaukreis also fights against the tapinoma Magnum plague, which forms large super colonies with millions of animals there. These ants have no natural enemies in Germany and can cause massive damage, including undermined playground floors and power outages. Mayor Martin Holschuh emphasizes that the municipalities exchange experiences in order to effectively act against the spread. In Schutterwald, the purchase of your own hot water unit is plans and estimates the annual control costs at 40,000 to 50,000 euros.

Scientific support and the future of ants fighting

For combating invasive ants, which includes tapinoma magnum , among other things, the red fire ant, among other things, is increasingly needed. A research project by Naturkundemuseen in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe aims to identify the weak points of the ant species. Citizens are encouraged to send ants to examination in order to be able to map the distribution areas better. The first evidence of the tapinoma Magnum in Germany was documented in Rhineland-Palatinate in 2009, since 2016 the species has also spread in Baden-Württemberg.

The problem of invasive ants shows how important a common procedure for citizens and municipalities is in order to cope with these challenges. Researchers and authorities are committed to checking the spread of species such as the tapinoma magnum in order to ultimately minimize the ecological, economic and health damage they cause. The pressure to prevent the spread of invasive species remains a central challenge for many regions.

Thomas Schuler is available as a contact person for further information on the situation in Sonderheim. The city administration appeals to all citizens to make their contribution to containing ants.

Further insights into the problem of invasive ants offer the articles from Rheinpfalz , SWR and Riffreporter .