Plant rescue from the cemetery brings in harmful ants
09.04.2026 – It is well-intentioned, but can have fatal consequences: It has been observed time and again that visitors to cemeteries take home half-wilted plants that have been disposed of in the green waste in order to revive them in their gardens at home. This was previously tolerated, but is now strongly discouraged: A super-colony with many millions of individuals of the large glandular ant (Tapinoma magnum) has spread in the Bürgel cemetery.
Anyone who digs up plants with soil from there in their own garden can bring a nest of this invasive ant species into their home. Signs are currently being put up above the green waste rings at the cemetery warning people not to take plants from the cemetery.
Tapinoma magnum is currently spreading in southern Germany
The Tapinoma Magnum ant species is currently spreading in southern Germany, and Offenbach is also affected. This ant species is very harmful because several queens are constantly producing offspring in their nests and the many animals undermine sidewalks, asphalt and terraces, causing them to sink and thus cause serious damage. In search of food, they also enter houses or build nests in letterboxes.
However, before taking action against all ants on your property, you should check whether it really is the large glandular ant. If you rub one of the animals, it emits a chemical odor. The workers of this species also crawl on so-called roads in several rows next to each other, whereas native species usually only crawl in one row behind each other. Native ant species should be spared: Where these are present, Tapinoma magnum does not colonize. The invasive species was probably introduced to Germany with Mediterranean plants and terrace wood.
Stadtservice combats large glandular ant
Last year, Stadtwerke Offenbach's Stadtservice took up the fight against the two known occurrences in Bürgel and on the harbor island. "So far, Stadtservice has been able to prevent further spread," says City Treasurer and responsible department head Martin Wilhelm. "However, anyone who takes plants home from the Bürgel cemetery can contribute to the further spread. This species of ant can no longer be eliminated due to its rapid reproduction, it can only be contained."
Martin Wilhelm has now met with Christian Loose, Deputy Head of ESO Eigenbetrieb of the City of Offenbach, and Tobias Milbrat from Stadtwerke Offenbach's quality assurance department at the Walter Spiller Bridge at the harbor to observe the first ant control operations. Tobias Milbrat organizes the control of the invasive ant species carried out by Stadtservice employees and is the contact person for citizens who discover new occurrences of the large glandular ant on their property.
"The easiest and best way to control them is with hot water," says Christian Loose, deputy manager of Stadtservice. "Stadtservice now has its own device for this purpose, which uses a lance to press the heated water into the ground, destroying nests containing many thousands of eggs. With three operations per week plus additional monitoring by Tobias Milbrat, we are well on the way to limiting the spread. However, Tapinoma magnum will not disappear completely from Offenbach."
Private individuals who find the glandular ant on their property for the first time should contact Stadtwerke Offenbach's customer service on 069/840004-545.