Ants albaum in Karlsruhe: The forgotten path ants is here!

Ants albaum in Karlsruhe: The forgotten path ants is here!

in Karlsruhe, more precisely in the Knielingen district, a newly discovered invasive ant type causes excitement. The forgotten path ants, also known as Lasius Neglectus , has been demonstrated within gardens and apartments and has already caused significant complaints among residents. This type of ant can form huge super colonies, which consist of several queens and numerous connected nests. An example of such a large colony is in Budapest, where there are an incredible ten billion ants. The new species could originally come from the Black Sea area and is probably introduced by plants in garden centers, as SWR.

The Kehler ant ( tapinoma magnum ) in Baden-Württemberg was already known. In the past, this had caused great damage to Kehl, which even led to electricity and internet failures. However, Lasius Neglectus is now a new and possibly larger enemy. Karlsruhe is the fourth place in Baden-Württemberg, where it was demonstrated, to Bad Säckingen, Pleidelsheim and Wehr. The colony grows over the years due to new queens that are added.

The challenges for the residents

The residents in Knielingen have already tried various methods to combat ants. This includes glue, fly grille and adhesive tape. In view of the strong distribution and the number of these ants, the question arises as to how effective such measures are really. Complaints from the residents were the reason for the discovery of this invasive way. However, a problem remains: The city of Karlsruhe is not legally obliged to act against the ants on private land. Experts therefore recommend that not fully exterminate the ants, but to operate a management in order to control the spread, according to the Nabu.

Invasive types such as Lasius neglectus are a worrying phenomenon in the biological invasion. This type of ant has now established itself in many parts of Europe - over 100 evidence decorated the list, including some on the Canary Islands. The less natural enemies you find in your new environment, the faster the population can spread unchecked. This has deeply negative effects on local biodiversity and ensures that local species are replaced, as the antwiki describes.

research and future

The challenge of the invasive ants has attracted scientists' attention. A study under the direction of Dr. Sylvia Cremer deals with the biology of Lasius Neglectus and was published in the journal "Plos One". Research examines how the super colonies form and can extend over hundreds of kilometers. Since the pairing takes place underground and not in wedding flights, these ants are particularly difficult to combat. Experts warn that a deep understanding of biology and the behavior of these invasive species is essential in order to be able to develop strategies for control.

For the residents in Karlsruhe, the current situation can only be described as a challenge. Every year that passes, a new generation of queens is added, and it remains to be seen which measures can really help. The city and the citizens must now work together to secure the future of the local ants.