Dangerous for humans and animals, the electric ant, detected for the first time in mainland France in Toulon in 2022, has now colonized La Croix-Valmer, thus becoming the second known outbreak in the territory. The town hall has set up a crisis unit to try to control the situation.
Unwelcome guests have appeared in La Croix-Valmer, in the Var. Detected for the first time in mainland France in Toulon in 2022, electric ants, native to South America, seem to adapt to the Mediterranean climate. This orange-yellow predator has now established a new home in the Var, as confirmed by the town hall in a recent message published on Facebook:
“A recent report from the Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (DREAL) informed us of the presence of electric ants in a neighborhood in the north of the town.”
A dangerous species for humans and biodiversity
Electric ants are among the most invasive ant species in the world. If these ants represent a major danger for domestic animals who can lose their sight after a sting, they also pose a risk for humans. Their sting, described as as painful as an electric shock, can cause serious reactions, including anaphylactic shock in allergy sufferers.
Beyond their effects on health, they constitute a direct threat to biodiversity, and can “have a fairly significant impact by destabilizing the functioning of ecosystems”, explains Mathieu de Flores, entomologist at the Opie association, at the microphone of BFMTV.
“They are so competitive that they will completely crowd out the species that were originally present,” he adds.
A mobilized crisis unit
Aware of the urgency of the situation, the town hall of La Croix-Valmer quickly reacted by creating a crisis unit to try to eradicate this invasive species. However, the task promises to be complex, recalls René Carandante, first deputy at the town hall.
“We are on it, but we don't want to do anything because there is a problem with treatment, with biodiversity. We don't have a product at European level. We have to bring it in, to my knowledge he comes from Australia,” he explains.
The necessary products must be evaluated to determine their consequences on local ecosystems and human health. “We therefore have to have authorizations from the State. It takes a certain amount of time. Unfortunately, it works against us,” he worries.
While waiting for a concrete solution, the town hall of La Croix-Valmer calls on residents to exercise caution. She recommends in her Facebook post to “avoid using insecticides or trying to destroy the colony with your own means, otherwise you risk being attacked.” And adds: “We essentially advise you to take photos and send them to this address: [email protected].”
At the European level, the electric ant has been classified on the European Union's list of invasive toxic species of concern in 2022.
Blandine D'Alena, François Pitrel with Alexandre Simoes
