The Tapinoma magnum ant is one of the most destructive invasive species and has been found in the UK
12:26, 27 Jun 2025Updated 12:52, 27 Jun 2025
The ants can be spotted as they create long trails across patios and pavements, experts say(Image: John Keeble, Getty Images)
UK gardeners have been put on high alert as a new destructive species of ant, the Tapinoma magnum, has been spotted in the country. The ants, believed to have arrived in Europe through imported plants at garden centres, have already wreaked havoc and are considered one of Germany’s most destructive invasive species.
Now, they’ve been sighted in the UK, with experts warning that these ants are far from ordinary. This tiny species, barely 4mm in size, was once largely confined to the warmer climates of the Mediterranean area.
It initially settled in Italy, either naturally or via the thriving trade between Ancient Rome and northern Africa, but has recently been found in southwest Germany and the Rhineland areas.
The ants have now made their way to the UK, including Royston, Hertfordshire. Known for their vicious nature, these ants can bite through various types of infrastructure.
In Kehl, near the French border, the city reported damage to public infrastructure, power cuts, and internet disruptions caused by the ants, reports the Express.
These ants have also been discovered in ten European countries, including France, Belgium, the UK, and even Azerbaijan. They infiltrate buildings, penetrating cavities and electrical boxes, using cables to move into spaces, which led to the power cuts in Kehl.
In Karlsruhe, the city’s suburban railway is grappling with loose pavements near the platforms, undermined by ant colonies.
Niall Gallagher, British Pest Control Association Technical Manager, highlighted the resilience of a Mediterranean ant species this week, stating: “Research shows that T. magnum colonies are remarkably cold-tolerant for a Mediterranean species. In Germany, for example, they’ve survived two-week frost periods with average temperatures of -6.6°C and minimums down to -15°C without issue.”https://bpca.org.uk/news/mega-ants-hit-the-press-bpca-responds/278905
He continued to explain the implications of climate change on these insects: “This kind of hardiness, combined with warmer winters and longer summers in the UK, potentially makes colonisation more likely over time.”
Discussing their characteristics, Niall noted their behaviours reveal their identity, including how they leave long trails over outdoor surfaces; he said: “In truth, most people – and even professional pest controllers – would struggle to tell Tapinoma magnum apart from common species like the black garden ant (Lasius niger).”
On the difficulty of distinguishing this ant species, Niall mentioned: “Visually, the two ants are very similar, and the subtle anatomical differences require lab analysis to confirm. Unless you’re a specialist with experience in ant taxonomy, identifying T. magnum based on appearance alone is difficult.”
He added details on how these ants might be recognised in the wild: “In the field, you’d probably rely on behavioural clues, particularly their distinctive procession behaviour. These ants often form long, busy trails across patios, pavements and walls, connecting different parts of their supercolony.”
The wildlife website Bees, Wasps and Ants has reported a colony of the foreign ant species thriving in Royston, Herts. They revealed: “They seem to be thriving and have several nests with many queens in a private garden and have also been seen in two other gardens with one being 200m away. The resident, a professional gardener, recognised some very small black ants in his garden as something special about 5 years ago. It was only when he posted some photos and notes on the UK Bees, Wasps and Ants Facebook page that interest was piqued.
A new destructive species of ant which has been spotted in the UK.(Image: Getty)
“Samples were requested and some sent to Bernhard Seifert in Germany who kindly identified them as T. pygmaeum. These ants are native to southern Europe and their presence here is likely a consequence of global warming. However as they have been thriving outdoors in Royston for 5 years or more it seems very likely that they could turn up elsewhere in Britain so please keep an eye out for them.”
In a related incident, Marlen, a suburb of Kehl, had to shut down a children’s playground when the earth began to rise due to numerous ants building tunnels underground. Additionally, these ants pose a psychological menace when nesting in private gardens, leaving humans with bite marks, infiltrating homes, and breeding plant lice which feed the ants with their secretions.
Manfred Verhaagh, a scientist from the Natural History Museums of Karlsruhe and Stuttgart involved in a Tapinoma research project, has admitted that after spending “hours” on the study, he’s discovered very little on how to defeat them. He noted, “I’ve found almost nothing,” also mentioning that potent pesticides are typically banned in Germany and could contribute to the broader decline in insect populations.
In cities like Tübingen and Kehl, local teams have resorted to pouring boiling water at 95°C into the earth as an alternative to chemical solutions. Nonetheless, there is an understanding that the resilient Tapinoma magnum can endure harsh climates, diving deeper underground to outlive temperatures dropping below minus 10C.