Concerns rise in Var due to electric ants. Three colonies have been detected since 2022, including a new one last March. Their painful stings and ecological impact have led authorities to launch an unprecedented treatment.
Watch where you step if you visit southern France this summer.
In Var (the only department in France where they have been spotted), three colonies of little fire ants, also known as “electric ants” (scientific name: Wasmannia auropunctata), have been identified since 2022. These microscopic insects with bodies ranging from orange to golden brown, native to South America and classified as one of the most worrisome invasive species in Europe, are a concern for both humans and biodiversity.
The latest colony was found last March in Cavalaire-sur-Mer, near Saint-Tropez. Despite their tiny size, barely 1.5 millimeters, their stings are far from harmless. “Their sting is very painful,” explains entomologist Wim Veraghtert. “A sting near the eye can even damage the cornea and cause blindness.” A nickname that holds true, as confirmed by his colleague Peter Berx, stating, “Their sting causes a burning sensation similar to an electric shock.” Veraghtert adds, “The name ‘fire ant’ also refers to the intensity of the pain.”
Operational mode: National Geographic details their operational mode: they grasp their victim with powerful mandibles, then curve their abdomen to sting with their stinger, allowing them to inject venom under the victim’s skin. It is common for this species to sting in bursts or groups, enhancing the pain that can last for several hours.
But the real danger is ecological. “Invasive ants pose a threat. If they settle, they simply chase away other animals,” points out Peter Berx. These insects can eliminate local species, ranging from other insects to small reptiles. Their arrival is linked to human activity, as Berx explains, “They arrive here through shipped potted plants.” And just one colony is enough to establish itself permanently: “An isolated ant cannot survive, but a small colony with a queen is sufficient,” adds Wim Veraghtert.
Faced with the situation, French authorities have decided to take action. Specific treatments, imported from Australia as traditional insecticides are ineffective, will be used over a four-hectare area for six months. This is a first. Drones will also be mobilized to reach inaccessible areas.
