An invasive Mediterranean ant species, Tapinoma magnum, is rapidly expanding northward across Germany, raising alarms about potential damage to infrastructure, internet outages, and structural safety. According to DPA, the supercolonies of these ants now stretch as far north as Cologne and Hanover.
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Manfred Verhaagh, an entomologist at the Natural History Museum in Karlsruhe, warned that Tapinoma magnum forms supercolonies with populations ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions—significantly larger than native ant colonies. “They pose a real threat to building structures,” he said.
Infrastructure Threats and Internet Disruptions
In the town of Kehl, located in the Baden-Württemberg region, the ants have already caused internet service disruptions due to their nesting in critical cable systems. Their spread is also being monitored in parts of France and Switzerland.
Despite not being officially classified as an invasive species under EU law—since their ecological threat is currently considered limited—German scientists and government agencies are now collaborating on a national initiative to contain their expansion.
“We must act swiftly before the threat worsens,” stated Baden-Württemberg’s Minister for the Environment, Andre Baumann, who labeled the ants as a “pest,” even though they are not yet legally defined as such.
Verhaagh emphasized that these ants are particularly dangerous because of their adaptability and ability to exploit manmade environments. With climate change possibly aiding their spread, experts believe the issue could escalate unless containment measures are swiftly implemented.
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