Tapinoma magnum queen with a male and workers, larvae and pupae.
Photo @Roberto Piras / Shutterstock
🔎 TAPINOMA MAGNUM is an ant species originally native to the Mediterranean region. Due to international plant trade, it has now spread to Central Europe. 🌍🌱
Origin & Spread:
-
Most often introduced with Mediterranean plants such as palms, olive, and fig trees 🌴
-
Detected in several Central European countries since 2007
Biology & Appearance:
-
Forms “supercolonies” with thousands of queens and millions of workers 👑🐜
-
Workers are glossy black, 3–5 mm long, with twelve-segmented antennae
-
Nests are underground, often highly branched and up to one meter deep
Risks & Problems:
-
Displaces native ant species through aggressive behavior and toxic secretions ⚠️
-
Undermines paving, buildings, and technical infrastructure
-
Can invade homes and cause skin irritation in humans 🏠
-
Promotes aphids and damages agricultural crops
-
Damage to distribution boxes, roads, and playgrounds has already been reported 🚧
Tapinoma magnum is a prime example of how global trade and climate change create new challenges for our environment and infrastructure. 🌐
Sources:
-
Pospischil, R. (2021). Fokus Tapinoma magnum – Populationen mit bis zu 300 Königinnen. DpS, 03, 2021, 8-10.
-
Weber, A. (2024). Sie verdrängen einheimische Arten, beißen Stromkabel durch und dringen in Häuser ein: invasive Tapinoma-Ameisen erobern Mitteleuropa. NZZ, August 29, 2024.
-
Keppler, S. (2025). Tapinoma magnum – Mangelndes Problembewusstsein. DpS, 01, 2025, 14-15.