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Erik de la Reguera: In the heat, we battle invading ants
🇸🇪 Sweden /Environment & Climate

Erik de la Reguera: In the heat, we battle invading ants

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Sources not specified Context piece
  • Paris is experiencing record heatwaves, exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, impacting daily life.
  • Residents are adapting by staying indoors, using fans, and seeking air-conditioned spaces.
  • An invasive ant species, Tapinoma magnum, is aggressively invading homes and properties due to the heat and drought.

Paris is grappling with an intense summer heatwave, with temperatures consistently soaring above 30 degrees Celsius, forcing residents to adapt their daily routines. The abstract concept of climate change adaptation has become a tangible, personal struggle for many Parisians.

I have "adapted" by closing all windows and shutters on the hottest days, staying close to the fan, going to matinee films in air-conditioned halls, and working more in the evenings and at night.

— Erik de la RegueraDescribing personal adaptations to the extreme heat in Paris.

Residents like the author are taking measures such as closing windows and shutters, staying near fans, and seeking refuge in air-conditioned cinemas. Work is often shifted to cooler evenings and nights. Beyond personal comfort, the heat and drought have spurred an aggressive invasion of ants across France, including the Paris region.

Record heat and drought have made the ants frenetically active and sometimes downright aggressive.

— Erik de la RegueraExplaining the impact of the weather on ant behavior.

Reports from various parts of the country highlight ants infiltrating houses, gardens, and outdoor spaces. The extreme weather conditions are making the ants, particularly an invasive species known as Tapinoma magnum, frenetically active. This species, which has spread from the Mediterranean, is more resistant to common ant baits and pesticides than native ants. Unlike typical garden ants, Tapinoma magnum colonies feature multiple queens and extensive networks.

Tapinoma magnum can easily be confused with the common black garden ant, but is more resistant to ant baits and pesticides.

— Erik de la RegueraDescribing the characteristics of the invasive ant species.

The author recounts personal battles with ants on his balcony, using natural deterrents like spices and lemon peels. He also resorted to submerging a plant pot containing an ant infestation in water overnight. While acknowledging the harshness of the method, it proved partially successful. The author notes a slight reprieve as the most severe heat appears to be subsiding, with temperatures dropping to a more manageable 27 degrees Celsius in the shade.

It felt a bit cruel, I admit.

— Erik de la RegueraReflecting on the method used to combat the ant infestation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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