ORVAULT, SEPT 25 – European countries such as Germany, France and Switzerland are trying to curb the invasion of Tapinoma magnum ants, a species that, according to experts, is “almost impossible to eradicate.”
Citing reports Oddity Centralthe Tapinoma magnum ant commonly found throughout the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa, has recently begun its invasion of Europe.
In recent years, the tiny creature no bigger than 3 mm has wandered through some of the world’s most developed countries, teaching the population the meaning of fear.
Tapinoma ants are known for their ability to grow rapidly over large areas, as well as their resilience.
Experts say that the tiny ants have hundreds of queens and can create several smaller colonies that, instead of attacking each other, combine to form one super colony with millions of individuals. They are tireless in their search for resources, eating through walls, roads, and even internet and electrical cables.
“We are fighting them, and nothing is working,” said a resident of Orvault, a town in northwest France. “This is a new phenomenon, and no one knows how to deal with it.”
Until a few years ago, Tapinoma magnum ants were only found on the southern island of Corsica, but today the species has spread throughout most of France, damaging infrastructure, invading people’s homes, biting them, and threatening the country’s agricultural sector.
Local authorities seem powerless against the invasive species, and some of the most desperate have even sold their properties and moved to other areas. – Agency
