Latest news with #Tapinomamagnum
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Rancid-smelling super ants that form whopping colonies & even eat CABLES rampaging across Europe – & could infest the UK
One supercolony nest in Switzerland is the size of 35 football pitches BUG OFF Rancid-smelling super ants that form whopping colonies & even eat CABLES rampaging across Europe – & could infest the UK Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A STINKING species of super-ant is storming through Europe on a path to the UK. The millions-strong mega-colonies have wiped out power supplies and even roads as they overwhelm the ground beneath entire towns. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Tapinoma magnum ants have been moving north through Europe Credit: Getty 9 They can chomp through electric cables, cutting out power supplies Credit: TFI 9 The species, called Tapinoma magnum, hails from the Med and North Africa - but has been pushing up through the continent. They spread rapidly and establish supercolonies of up to 20million across 60 acres which are "virtually impossible" to eradicate. There were so many ants, you couldn't see the floor anymore Agnes Wirth And anyone who dares squash a T. magnum is greeted by the stench of rancid butter. The invaders hit headlines in Sweden this week as officials in regions around the capital Zurich attempt to oust the pests. read more in world news POOL POSITION Tourists wear sprint shoes & STRETCH before dawn dash for Magaluf pool spot The ants have also taken root in France - but Germany has suffered the most. In Germany, the sleepy south-western town of Kehl has been swamped. Locals reported watching the town's pavements and curbs sinking as the earth was carted away by the bugs, causing havoc with the roads. And a playground was forced to close after ants took over the entire area and turned it into a nest. City workers had to jet hot water into the labyrinth to wash them out. The wider state of Baden-Württemberg has suffered power cuts and internet outages after the insects chomped through electric cables. Watch incredible vid of ants OUTSMARTING humans to solve puzzle first T. magnum's destructive power comes from the sheer scale of their underground warrens and their tireless determination to expand. While most ant species organise a few thousand workers around a single queen, T. magum clans contain up to 20million and hundreds of queens. Instead of attacking one another, the smaller colonies merge together in alliance. The British Pest Control Association told The Sun that the UK is at risk from the advancing crusade. Individual efforts by homeowners and gardeners can't control an infestation Niall Gallagher They explained the ants "spread mainly through horticultural imports, especially potted plants and trees from the Mediterranean". They added: "If T. magnum were to establish here, it could become a nuisance. "They form vast supercolonies, displace native species and can even cause structural issues by excavating under paving." Although the species has not marched into the UK yet, a spokesperson for Defra said the agency "remains vigilant" to the threat. The countryside around Zurich has been tormented by the ants since 2018. 9 A city worker in Kehl, Germany, treats a playground overwhelmed by a T. magnum nest Credit: Alamy 9 Power outages in Germany have been blamed on the bugs Credit: Facebook / Lutte contre la Fourmi Tapinoma Magnum - Région Corse 9 The ants can form supercolonies with hundreds of queens and millions of workers Credit: Alamy Despite an almighty effort to clear them out, the ants remain "well established" in four areas. In Winterthur, they blocked a billion-pound construction project when they settled exactly where a multi-track railroad tunnel was planned. In the nearby Oetwil an der Limmat region, one supercolony infested an entire five-hectare potato field - about seven football pitches. A local, Agnes Wirth, told Swiss site SRF: "There were so many ants, you couldn't see the floor anymore." But that is dwarfed by the colony in Volketswil, on the other side of Zurich, where an area the size of 35 football pitches is teeming with the busy-body bugs. The infestation is so enormous that the local authority has been legally forced to act. Katharina Weber of the Zurich Department of Construction said: "In areas with large infestations, a coordinated approach by specialists is required. 9 They displace the earth beneath tarmac - causing roads and pavements to sink Credit: Alamy 9 A power box overwhelmed by the ants Credit: TFI 9 The ants are small and look similar to the black garden ant in the UK Credit: Alamy "This means a plan is needed, and special pest controllers must be deployed. These can target the insecticide at the nests." In the UK, DEFRA recommends that anyone who sees a non-native insect species takes a photo and reports it. Mike Fox, record manager for the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society, said: "As far as I know, there are no records of Tapinoma magnum becoming established in the UK but of course it could possible in the future." Niall Gallagher, the Technical Manager at British Pest Control Association, said they closely monitor pest species - including Tapinoma magnum. He told The Sun: "Research on Tapinoma magnum supercolonies in Switzerland has found that these ants live outdoors and can continue to forage at temperatures as low as 6 degrees during the winter months. 'Individual efforts by homeowners and gardeners are not sufficient to effectively control an infestation, and specifically tailored pest control solutions are needed to eradicate a colony." He recommend that anyone concerned about an ant infestation contacts a professional pest controller for help.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Rancid-smelling super ants that form whopping colonies & even eat CABLES rampaging across Europe – & could infest the UK
A STINKING species of super-ant is storming through Europe on a path to the UK. The millions-strong mega-colonies have wiped out power supplies and even roads as they overwhelm the ground beneath entire towns. Advertisement 9 Tapinoma magnum ants have been moving north through Europe Credit: Getty 9 They can chomp through electric cables, cutting out power supplies Credit: TFI 9 The species, called Tapinoma magnum, hails from the Med and North Africa - but has been pushing up through the continent. They spread rapidly and establish supercolonies of up to 20million across 60 acres which are "virtually impossible" to eradicate. There were so many ants, you couldn't see the floor anymore Agnes Wirth Oetwil an der Limmat resident And anyone who dares squash a T. magnum is greeted by the stench of rancid butter. The invaders hit headlines in Sweden this week as officials in regions around the capital Zurich attempt to oust the pests. Advertisement read more in world news The ants have also taken root in France - but Germany has suffered the most. In Germany, the sleepy south-western town of Kehl has been swamped. Locals reported watching the town's pavements and curbs sinking as the earth was carted away by the bugs, causing havoc with the roads. And a playground was forced to close after ants took over the entire area and turned it into a nest. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive City workers had to jet hot water into the labyrinth to wash them out. The wider state of Baden-Württemberg has suffered power cuts and internet outages after the insects chomped through electric cables. Watch incredible vid of ants OUTSMARTING humans to solve puzzle first T. magnum's destructive power comes from the sheer scale of their underground warrens and their tireless determination to expand. While most ant species organise a few thousand workers around a single queen, T. magum clans contain up to 20million and hundreds of queens. Advertisement Instead of attacking one another, the smaller colonies merge together in alliance. The British Pest Control Association told The Sun that the UK is at risk from the advancing crusade. Individual efforts by homeowners and gardeners can't control an infestation Niall Gallagher Technical Manager at BPCA They explained the ants "spread mainly through horticultural imports, especially potted plants and trees from the Mediterranean". They added: "If T. magnum were to establish here, it could become a nuisance. Advertisement "They form vast supercolonies, displace native species and can even cause structural issues by excavating under paving." Although the species has not marched into the UK yet, a spokesperson for Defra said the agency "remains vigilant" to the threat. The countryside around Zurich has been tormented by the ants since 2018. 9 A city worker in Kehl, Germany, treats a playground overwhelmed by a T. magnum nest Credit: Alamy Advertisement 9 Power outages in Germany have been blamed on the bugs Credit: Facebook / Lutte contre la Fourmi Tapinoma Magnum - Région Corse 9 The ants can form supercolonies with hundreds of queens and millions of workers Credit: Alamy Despite an almighty effort to clear them out, the ants remain "well established" in four areas. In Winterthur, they blocked a billion-pound construction project when they settled exactly where a multi-track railroad tunnel was planned. Advertisement In the nearby Oetwil an der Limmat region, one supercolony infested an entire five-hectare potato field - about seven football pitches. A local, Agnes Wirth, told Swiss site But that is dwarfed by the colony in Volketswil, on the other side of Zurich, where an area the size of 35 football pitches is teeming with the busy-body bugs. The infestation is so enormous that the local authority has been legally forced to act. Advertisement Katharina Weber of the Zurich Department of Construction said: "In areas with large infestations, a coordinated approach by specialists is required. 9 They displace the earth beneath tarmac - causing roads and pavements to sink Credit: Alamy 9 A power box overwhelmed by the ants Credit: TFI 9 The ants are small and look similar to the black garden ant in the UK Credit: Alamy Advertisement "This means a plan is needed, and special pest controllers must be deployed. These can target the insecticide at the nests." In the UK, DEFRA recommends that anyone who sees a non-native insect species takes a photo and reports it. Mike Fox, record manager for the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society, said: "As far as I know, there are no records of Tapinoma magnum becoming established in the UK but of course it could possible in the future ." Niall Gallagher, the Technical Manager at British Pest Control Association, said they closely monitor pest species - including Tapinoma magnum. Advertisement He told The Sun: "Research on Tapinoma magnum supercolonies in Switzerland has found that these ants live outdoors and can continue to forage at temperatures as low as 6 degrees during the winter months. 'Individual efforts by homeowners and gardeners are not sufficient to effectively control an infestation, and specifically tailored pest control solutions are needed to eradicate a colony." He recommend that anyone concerned about an ant infestation contacts a professional pest controller for help. Tapinoma magnum species According to the British Pest Control Association, one of T. magnum's most striking traits is their procession behaviour. These ants form conspicuous trails across pavements and up buildings, often in large, coordinated lines. These trails are reinforced with pheromones and can span several metres, connecting different parts of their supercolony. To the untrained eye, this may look like a very active colony of common ants – but the sheer volume and organised movement can be a telltale sign of T. magnum. In established infestations, these trails may even lead into buildings, across walls or deep into pavements and garden features. If the species were to establish here, pest professionals would likely rely on a combination of bait gels (such as indoxacarb or imidacloprid) and surface treatments, as was done successfully in Zurich, Switzerland. As always, public awareness and early reporting are vital tools in managing invasive pests. Think you've seen something unusual? Here's what to do: Don't disturb the nest Take clear, close-up photos of the ants and any distinctive behaviour (such as trail formation or large aggregations) Report the sighting to the Non-native Species Secretariat via their website
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Aggressive ant species spreading north in Germany
An aggressive ant species is spreading ever further north in Germany and threatening to take down power and internet connections. Ants of the invasive species Tapinoma magnum, which originates in the Mediterranean region, are spreading as far north as Cologne and Hanover, said ant expert Manfred Verhaagh from the Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe. "Super colonies have from hundreds of thousands to millions of individuals," he warned - far bigger than colonies of other ant species. The invasion of the ant species and their colony-building is threatening buildings and technical infrastructure in Baden-Württemberg and other regions of Germany, scientists said. In the town of Kehl, for example, there have already been power and internet outages caused by the ants. The ant has also been noticed in other parts of Europe, such as France and Switzerland. German scientists and authorities are now working together for the first time in a project to stem the advance of the insects. Tapinoma magnum has not yet been officially categorized as invasive, as it does not currently pose a large enough risk to local ecosystems. Baden-Württemberg's state secretary for the environment, Andre Baumann, nevertheless said that he considers Tapinoma magnum to be a "pest," even if it is not legally labelled as such.
South China Morning Post
11-04-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Aggressive ants in Germany threaten buildings, technical infrastructure
An aggressive ant species is spreading ever further north in Germany and threatening to take down power and internet connections. Advertisement Ants of the invasive species Tapinoma magnum, which originates in the Mediterranean region, are spreading as far north as Cologne and Hanover, said ant expert Manfred Verhaagh from the Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe. 'Super colonies have from hundreds of thousands to millions of individuals,' he warned – far bigger than colonies of other ant species. The invasion of the ant species and their colony-building is threatening buildings and technical infrastructure in Baden-Württemberg and other regions of Germany, scientists said. In the town of Kehl, for example, there have already been power and internet outages caused by the ants. Advertisement The ant has also been noticed in other parts of Europe, such as France and Switzerland.
