Countries like Germany, France and Switzerland are trying to contain an invasion of Tapinoma magnum ants, a species that experts say is virtually impossible to get rid of. Typically found throughout the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East, and North Africa, these ants have recently begun an invasion of Europe. Over the past couple of years, the tiny critters — no more than 3mm in size — have been rampaging through some of the world’s most developed countries, teaching their residents the meaning of fear. The ants are famous for their ability to rapidly expand over large areas, as well as for their resilience. Experts say the tiny troopers have hundreds of queens and can create several smaller colonies that, instead of attacking each other, unite to create one super colony with millions of individual ants. They are relentless in search of resources, eating through walls, pavements, and even Internet or electric cables. Local authorities seem powerless against the invasive species and some of the most desperate people have even sold their properties and relocated to other areas. Residents constantly complain about the ants taking over their homes and biting their children and their pets, but local authorities seem unable to contain the problem. They have tried various methods of destroying the nests, from injecting them with a hot foam to burning them, but the ants just come back stronger.
