Esslingen fights against invasive ants: strategy for Sirnau presented!

Esslingen fights against invasive ants: strategy for Sirnau presented!

In the city of Esslingen, more precisely in the Sirnau district, the fight against the invasive ant species Tapinoma magnum has begun. As the city administration explains in today's announcement, the presence of this large gland ant was proven along the noise barrier on the federal highway. Although the ants are harmless to humans, their large supercolonies can cause significant damage to infrastructure. Therefore, the city has decided to actively combat the spread of this species.

The focus of these measures is on the goal of containing the ant population in the city and, if possible, limiting it to the noise barrier. The Neckar offers a natural barrier that is intended to support the fight. In collaboration with a specialist pest control company, the city has already officially discussed a course of action.

Planned measures and help citizens

The fight will initially begin on private property before the measures expand along the noise barrier. The residents in Sirnau receive great support. The citizens' committee plays an important role in communication and ensures that information about the ongoing situation is shared transparently.

A special gel is laid out as bait to control the ant population. However, the exact costs for these measures still need to be clarified. It is important that declarations of assignment are signed before the offensive measures in order to secure the legal framework.

Own measures to repel ants

There is some helpful advice for anyone who is already dealing with the issue of ants at home. No food sources should be offered in the garden. Vinegar, essential oils, baking soda and diatomaceous earth can be used as natural repellents. Hot water has also been shown to be effective against ants, while flame burners are not recommended.

Although the complete eradication of the large gland ant is considered difficult, the city has initiated long-term monitoring plans to keep an eye on its occurrence along the noise barrier. If the situation requires it, quicker measures can be taken.

Research as the key to combating it

But that's not all. In parallel to the local control measures, exciting research work is taking place at the Natural History Museum of Baden-Württemberg. The aim is to create a high-quality reference genome for the invasive ant species Tapinoma magnum through long-term genome sequencing. This not only helps to identify genetic markers, but also to document the spread across Central Europe. In this way, the differences between invasive and native species can be better understood.

In this collaboration between state museums of natural history in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, targeted genotyping is carried out. Citizens are invited to take action themselves by collecting specimens of Tapinoma magnum and documenting the data. This covers large geographical areas in Baden-Württemberg and lays an important basis for tracking the invasion.

With a clear model of future spread, however, the influence of environmental variables on the occurrence of ants is examined. The upcoming white paper provides valuable recommendations for cities to identify and contain invasive species. A guide with an identification key for citizens is also being developed.

This shows that, despite the challenges, the city of Esslingen is specifically tackling the invasive ant species Tapinoma magnum and is involving both the population and research in the process. The next steps in this challenge will be taken together.