Red alarm level: Invasive ants threatens Hesse's infrastructure!

Red alarm level: Invasive ants threatens Hesse's infrastructure!

Darmstadt, Hessen, Deutschland - In the German state of Hesse, the invasive ant species Tapinoma Magnum was discovered. This discovery took place in the Darmstadt city area, more precisely in the northern Lincoln settlement. The proof goes back to information from citizens and was confirmed by an expert. Tapinoma Magnum originally comes from the Mediterranean and now shows a worrying spread in Germany.

The ant species forms so -called super colonies and can occur in large quantities. The first indications of their infestation were found on paved areas, in houses and in power boxes. Such attacks can lead to serious problems, including loose paving stones as well as electricity and internet failures that have already been observed in other regions such as Kehl.

threat to domestic biodiversity

The aggressive spread of tapinoma magnum not only has technical but also ecological consequences. This invasive kind displaces domestic ants that perform essential tasks in the ecosystem. The federal states of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and the East France of Alsace, where the ant has already been proven, are particularly affected. In addition, populations have also been found in cities such as Cologne and Hanover.

In 2009, Tapinoma Magnum was first spotted in Rhineland-Palatinate, presumably introduced by plant transport. In Kehl, a playground had to be closed due to the risk of accidents, since the ants can cause massive damage to buildings and technical infrastructure. Authority representative emphasize that the species is not officially listed as an invasive, which also makes combating more difficult. Despite her damage potential, it is considered not threatening to the ecosystems by the Federal Office for Nature Conservation.

difficult control and preventive measures

The fight against tapinoma magnum is difficult because the ant resembles at home. It is also important that there is no well -known remedy for this species. While Tapinoma Magnum does not transmit diseases, you can trigger short -term allergies on contact. In order to recognize the risk of infection, a specific smell can be perceived that smells like rancid butter when the ants are crushed.

A research project in Baden-Württemberg is currently underway that contributes to the development of effective countermeasures. In view of the increasing number of invasive species in Germany, special attention is required to pay attention to this problem. Around 900 neobiota species are currently established in Germany, which is about 1% of all 74,000 species. This increase is favored by global trade and traffic and could be reinforced by climate change, since the climatic barriers that currently limit the occurrence of many types.

The Situation around Tapinoma Magnum shows how urgently the topic of invasive species is in Germany. Authorities and research institutions are faced with the challenge of developing suitable measures to protect both the infrastructure and domestic biodiversity. It remains important for citizens to report abnormalities and observe the developments in order to take suitable steps.