North African ’Super Ants’ Swarm Across Europe, Alarming Scientists

Tapinoma magnum. This is the name of the ant that is currently invading northern Europe. These insects, which are native to North African and Mediterranean countries, including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Spain and Italy, have quickly moved further north, to France, Germany and Switzerland, reports Mail Online. Classified in the Animalia kingdom, these ants belong to the order Hymenoptera, the family Formicidae and the subfamily Dolichoderinae. They are known for their ability to form large supercolonies, and for their rancid butter-like odor.

According to Niall Gallagher, technical director of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), the ants have spread northward mainly through horticultural imports - particularly potted plants and trees from the Mediterranean region. So far, there has been no verified trace of T. magnum in the United Kingdom, but experts say the species could potentially cross the English Channel. "There is always a risk with species like this," Gallagher warned, before providing further explanation. "Like any invasive species, if T. magnum were to establish itself here, it could become a nuisance. They form vast supercolonies, displace native species and can even cause structural problems by burrowing under paving."

Tapinoma magnum has already caused damage to ecosystems. In Germany, a playground in Kehl had to be closed last summer because the Tapinoma ants had completely tunneled under the entire area, reports SRF. In Switzerland, the species was first discovered in 2018, and T. magnum is the cause of a "plague" of the creatures in Zurich.