Questions and answers about Tapinoma ants

The Tapinoma magnum is completely black in color and 2 to 4 millimeters in size. The workers differ in size - in contrast to native ant species, where all workers are the same size.

Eggs and pupae are white and transparent. The pupae do not form a cocoon. Therefore, small legs can be seen on the pupae.

If the Tapinoma ants are crushed, they emit a strong pungent chemical odor.

Tapinoma magnum forms wide, multi-lane ant trails on which several animals travel side by side. Native species, on the other hand, usually travel in narrow, single-lane roads.

If the animals are disturbed, for example by poking a stick into one of the nests, the ants immediately defend their nest and attack the stick. Native ants would rather hide.

The nest entrances can be recognized by shallow excavations of sand. The extensive, usually multi-lane ant trails start from there.

Nests usually occur in clusters and are sometimes connected by ant trails.

Take a close look at the plants you buy and check them for ants. It is advisable to check the root ball before planting new plants in your own garden.

If you have already seen Tapinoma ants in your garden or the surrounding area, you should not pass on any plants from your garden to prevent the ant from spreading with the plants.

If you remove leaves and weeds from roadsides, you will be able to see early on if Tapinoma ants are settling and you can control the ants at an early stage and prevent them from spreading further.

By avoiding composting food containing sugar and protein, you can deprive ants of one of their food sources.

Inspect green waste for ant infestation before disposing of it. Tapinoma ants often live on the root balls of dug up plants and are spread by the disposal.

For large-scale infestations and in public areas, the hot water foam method is best suited for control. Water is brought to the boil and plant-based ingredients such as coconut oil or corn starch are added to the boiling water. The resulting foam slows down the cooling process, allowing the heat to work longer and more intensively.

If the nests are easily accessible, hot water can be poured into the nests.

Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized diatoms. It removes moisture from the insects and ensures that they dry out. Diatomaceous earth must be stored in a dry place and is particularly suitable for indoor and covered areas. Diatomaceous earth is available from pet stores and farm stores.

Nematodes can also be used to control Tapinoma magnum.

Baking soda can be mixed with powdered sugar and used as bait. However, baking soda only harms the workers, not the queens. Therefore, the population cannot be contained in the long term in this way.