Invasive Species - Kehler Ants also spotted at other places
The invasive ant species, which has long plagued the Baden-Württemberg town of Kehl, has also been spotted elsewhere. According to the Baden-Württemberg Environmental Ministry, the ant species Tapinoma magnum has been documented in the southwest since 2009 at various locations. The State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe therefore lists Kehl, in addition to Baden-Württemberg, in the following places: Weinheim (Year: 2016), Lörrah-Hagen (2017), Karlsruhe (2018), Heidelberg and Ketsch (2020), near Stuttgart (2022). In addition, there is a report in the community Schutterwald.
The ant species is also found elsewhere
Furthermore, this ant species has reportedly been sighted in neighboring regions: in Rheinland-Pfalz in Edesheim, Ingelheim and Neustadt an der Weinstraße (2009) and in Speyerdorf (2016), in Hessen in Ginsheim-Gustavsburg (2012) and in France in Ilzach near Mulhouse. Rheinland-Pfalz also reported smaller infestations in Bobenheim/Roxheim, Frankenthal and Landau. In Limburgerhof, there is currently a hotspot, according to the ministry.
Kehl feels left behind
The city of Kehl (Ortenaukreis) feels left behind in its fight against the ant from the land and the federal government. Although not every community is affected, a strategy for combating invasive species is urgently needed, as a city spokesperson stated upon request. She also complained that jurisdiction lies with various authorities and that there is no nationwide or federal network for combating invasive species. "It can't be that affected communities are trying out different methods and procedures haphazardly. That costs a lot of money and is neither sensible nor effective – at least from our perspective."
The species protection spokesperson for the FDP state parliamentary group, Klaus Hoher, demanded that the state develop a strategy for reducing such invasive species. "In addition, the affected cities and municipalities urgently need help now."
New suspicion cases
In Kehl, the ants are reportedly present on approximately four hectares of land. Two supercolonies of this Mediterranean species with millions of ants were discovered in the city districts of Marlen and Neumühle. Additionally, there are further suspicion cases. "We are still waiting for lab results."
City intensifies fight
The city has been fighting the ants since autumn with hot foam. The municipalities must bear the costs of control themselves, according to the city spokesperson. The city must pay 50,000 euros per year for an ant colony. Kehl wants to intensify the fight and has ordered its own ant control equipment; employees will be specially trained for this. At least, according to the city spokesperson, the ants are not currently "explosively reproducing" further.
Significant damages
The black insects have already entered houses, caused power and internet outages, and destroyed mortar joints in a garden wall. The damages in public spaces, as well as those of private individuals, are significant but not yet quantifiable, according to the city.
The ant species has also been detected in nearby regions of Hesse, specifically in Wiesbaden (2019) and Gelnhausen (2021). In Germany (historically known as France), the ant has been spotted in Strasbourg (2014). The Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety (BMU) in Berlin has also recorded instances of the ant in the German state of Brandenburg, specifically in Potsdam (2018).
Rheinpfalz and Hesse are not the only neighboring regions affected. The ant species has also been reported in the Rhineland-Palatinate town of Heidelberg (2010) and in the Hessian city of Wiesbaden (2015). In the state of Baden-Württemberg, aside from Kehl, the ant has been found in the communes of Sindelfingen (2010) and Bietigheim-Bissingen (2020).
The Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart has a dedicated exhibit on invasive species, including the Tapinoma magnum ant. In the region of Alsace, France, the ant has been spotted in the commune of Mulhouse (2011).
The fight against this invasive species is a concern not just for individual cities and municipalities, but also for the country as a whole. Developing a national strategy for combating invasive species and providing support to affected communities is crucial, as highlighted by the FDP state parliamentary group's species protection spokesperson, Klaus Hoher.
