Successes achieved in Esslingen with gel targeting aggressive ants
In the city of Esslingen, a hotspot of the Tapinoma magnum ant plague, a new control method is being introduced to combat the invasive species that originated from the Mediterranean region. The ants have been causing issues in Baden-Württemberg and other parts of Germany for some time, threatening buildings and technical infrastructure, according to scientists.
Previously, hot water was the primary method used to control ant infestations in the southwest. However, due to the uneven, steep, and 700-meter long terrain, and the ants colonizing the cracks in the sound barrier, a hot water treatment would not be effective in Esslingen.
The city has decided to use a gel bait to control the ant colony, a method that has already been successfully used in Zurich and other areas of Baden. The gel contains an attractant to entice the ants to carry the substance back to their nests, where the poison is passed on to the offspring, potentially reducing their number.
Initial experiences with the gel bait in Esslingen are positive, with a four-centimeter-wide ant trail along an underpass disappearing. The city hopes that this new control method will significantly reduce the number of ants. Despite rain hindering the baiting process, a reduction in the ant population is visible in Esslingen.
In the Baden border town of Kehl, there have already been power and internet outages due to these ants. Esslingen assumes the gel bait is working successfully based on the observed disappearance of the ant trail.
However, it's important to note that the effectiveness of gel bait in controlling Tapinoma magnum ant infestations in Esslingen, Zurich, and Baden remains undocumented or unavailable in the current search results. The recognized method in at least one municipality, Nauheim, is the hot water foam approach with plant-based additives.
Despite the progress made in Esslingen, the ants have not been eradicated as they can quickly relocate their nests. The city continues to monitor the situation and adjust its control strategies as needed.
In the search for alternative methods to combat the Tapinoma magnum ant plague, environmental-science-inspired gel bait has shown promising results in reducing the ant population in Esslingen, potentially impacting health-and-wellness by mitigating issues with buildings and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of this gel bait in controlling the ant infestations in different regions, such as Esslingen, Zurich, and Baden, still requires further scientific study to support its widespread implementation.
