Invasive ant species Tapinoma magnum is spreading in Germany
Quick Look
- The invasive ant species Tapinoma magnum has spread to around 90 cities and communities in almost 25 rural and urban districts, with the largest colony in Karlsruhe-Neureut estimated to be 100 hectares in size with billions of specimens.
- The spread is causing significant distress for residents, including sleep disorders and depression, while communities face high costs for control measures such as hot water heaters and professional pest control.
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Why It Matters
The invasive ant species Tapinoma magnum has spread in Germany, with the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment reporting its spread in around 90 cities and communities in almost 25 rural and urban districts.
The ants are on the loose: Despite all efforts, the number of communities in which the invasive species Tapinoma magnum has been proven to have established itself has reached a new high. According to the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment, the animal has now spread to around 90 cities and communities in almost 25 rural and urban districts.
The ant populates joints and niches, crawls over terraces, and also wreaks havoc indoors and drives residents to despair. According to ant expert Manfred Verhaagh, the southwest has the highest number of communities infested by the animals in the country.
Germany's largest ant colony in Karlsruhe
According to experts, what is probably the largest colony in Germany with billions of specimens on around 100 hectares lives in the Neureut district of Karlsruhe, as Karen Eßrich from the city of Karlsruhe reports. The consequences are serious. “There are people who no longer go on vacation, who have sleep disorders, who become depressed - these are side effects of this ant plague,” says Andreas Martens. He heads the Institute of Biology at the Karlsruhe University of Education and helps the particularly affected city with traps he developed.
Extinction impossible
Eradication of the species is not realistically achievable, says the Environment Ministry. A combination of different measures is recommended to combat it. One possibility is hot water devices, which, as in Karlsruhe or Kehl (Ortenaukreis), are used to spray ants, their nests and their brood with hot water. Eating bait or professional pest control with insecticides are another.
Expensive fun for many municipalities. Karlsruhe has already spent 120,000 euros on purchasing a corresponding hot water vehicle, and more are to follow. From 2027 onwards, up to four teams will go out every day to combat the animals. Around one million euros in personnel costs are estimated for this - per year. In Kehl, the fight costs around 50,000 euros annually; In Nürtingen (Esslingen district), around 25,000 euros are budgeted for this.
Open Questions
- How effective are current control measures such as water heaters in the long term?
- Are there plans for a coordinated nationwide strategy to combat the spread of Tapinoma magnum?
- What ecological impact does the spread of ants have on native species and ecosystems?
