Aggressive ant species spreading north in Germany
An aggressive ant species is spreading ever further north in Germany and threatening to take down power and internet connections.
Ants of the invasive species Tapinoma magnum, which originates in the Mediterranean region, are spreading as far north as Cologne and Hanover, said ant expert Manfred Verhaagh from the Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe.
"Super colonies have from hundreds of thousands to millions of individuals," he warned - far bigger than colonies of other ant species.
The invasion of the ant species and their colony-building is threatening buildings and technical infrastructure in Baden-Württemberg and other regions of Germany, scientists said.
In the town of Kehl, for example, there have already been power and internet outages caused by the ants.
The ant has also been noticed in other parts of Europe, such as France and Switzerland.
German scientists and authorities are now working together for the first time in a project to stem the advance of the insects.
Tapinoma magnum has not yet been officially categorized as invasive, as it does not currently pose a large enough risk to local ecosystems.
Baden-Württemberg's state secretary for the environment, Andre Baumann, nevertheless said that he considers Tapinoma magnum to be a "pest," even if it is not legally labelled as such.
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