They form huge super colonies, penetrate into houses and have already caused power outages: ants of the art tapinoma magnum, which are considered to be an invasively, numerous municipalities. Scientists and politicians want to advise for the first time in Offenburg (9:00 a.m.) in Offenburg (Ortenaukreis) in Baden about how the invasion of the crawls can be contained and damage can be avoided.
Scientists from the state natural history museums in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe research the unusual advance of the insects. According to the experts, the Tapinoma Magnum is an increasing threat to Baden-Württemberg and other regions of Germany. In the border town of Kehl, a children’s playground has been closed for months because of the ants plague.
The State Environment Ministry supports a research project on the ant type of 210,000 euros, as the member of the state parliament Bernd Mettenleiter said.
MPs: Cities must not be left alone
“The increasing spread of the Tapinoma Magnum in Baden-Württemberg shows that we are dealing with a serious problem for residents, but also for buildings and infrastructure,” said the Greens politician of the German Press Agency. Cities and municipalities should not be left alone with the problem, said Mettenleiter.
The ant species from the Mediterranean has been documented in various locations in the southwest for several years. There was evidence in Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen and Schallstadt south of Freiburg.
Adjacent regions in Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and East France are also affected. The struggle is also considered difficult because the tapinoma Magnum looks like a normal domestic ant.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 250411-930-431045/2
