Overview
- The species, detected on June 2, 2025 in Stuttgart’s Rosensteinpark, is now confirmed by a peer‑reviewed study as Germany’s first record.
- Scientists found a full colony with brood and five additional nests in the park, which points to local overwintering rather than a one‑off arrival.
- Researchers suspect the ants arrived in soil of imported plants for the nearby Wilhelma zoological‑botanical garden, and note cities offer easy footholds as conditions warm.
- The ant delivers painful stings that can trigger severe allergic reactions, with U.S. sources reporting such reactions may be more frequent than after bee stings.
- The EU placed the species in its highest risk category in 2025, and teams urge targeted monitoring and control now with no evidence yet of establishment outside Stuttgart.