Another pest we could happily have done without has been turning up in the south of France for several years - and its presence is only becoming more pronounced. Think of them as real-life micro-tasers on six legs, with the potential to spread widely and upset local ecosystems.
After the arrival of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) and the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) in mainland France in 2004, we are now dealing with yet another invader. It is Wasmannia auropunctata, better known as the electric ant or the little fire ant - a name that tells you exactly what to expect.
A new invasive species in mainland France
This tiny insect, barely 1.5 mm long, originates from the tropical forests of South America. For years it has appeared on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) blacklist as one of the 100 most invasive alien species in the world. It has already taken hold across large areas of Central Africa, Pacific islands and parts of the Mediterranean basin - and it has now reached France.
Electric ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) outbreaks in the Var
The electric ant has been present in the Var since 2022. The first site was identified in Toulon, in the Saint-Musse neighbourhood. A second focus was then found further east, in the commune of Croix-Valmer in 2024.
A third site was only just detected in April this year in Cavalaire-sur-Mer, again in the Var. Following a ministerial order dated 25 March, the Var authorities have already begun treating the affected areas with powerful insecticides - some of them applied by drones. There is no mistaking it: the electric ant is now on the move along the French Riviera, and everything suggests the situation is already slipping out of our control.
The electric ant: an invader that lives up to its name
It owes its nickname to its sting. Unlike the venom of our native ants (made up mainly of formic acid, which burns like nettles), this species’ venom is neurotoxic. Even though it injects only a minute amount with each sting, the toxin concentration is extremely high, causing a sharp pain often described as a violent electric shock. The sensation can last up to 8 h, and the itching that follows may continue for up to 72 hours.
A single sting is not fatal, but these ants frequently defend themselves in groups. That can trigger severe allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to the venom of hymenoptera (bees, wasps, hornets, and so on). In pets such as cats or dogs, repeated stings around the eyes can even lead to blindness. Livestock are also affected, including horses, cows, sheep and goats.
Beyond the intensity of its attacks, its behaviour sets it apart from other pests. It is what is known as a tramp ant: it forms interconnected supercolonies containing hundreds, sometimes thousands, of queens - and they never go to war with one another. With no internal competition, these colonies can spread with remarkable ease, like oil seeping across a surface.
In an area occupied by a supercolony, densities can reach up to 20,000 workers per m². At that point, virtually no other insect species can survive: the ants effectively strip the ground where they establish themselves, as other insects have no defence against them.
What should you do if it invades your home?
The electric ant is a consummate opportunist: it can settle almost anywhere and does not need to build a conventional nest. Leaf litter, dead wood, bark, compost, plant pots, gaps in house walls, beneath paving slabs - if it can hide there, it can live there. If it appears on your property, getting rid of it can quickly become a nightmare.
Treat the soil and they may retreat into your trees; treat the trees and they can move under your patio, and so it goes. If you are confident you have them at home, do not exhaust yourself trying to eradicate them on your own. Because this is a listed invasive species, control efforts are collective. Report the sighting to your local council (and let your neighbours know, too), and use official reporting channels such as the INPN Espèces app, available free on the Google Play Store or the App Store. Bring in professionals - they are the only ones likely to have the right baits to kill them.
Given what is already happening, it is more than likely that the electric ant will expand further across France and eventually move beyond the south. It is a highly resilient species, capable of adapting to many kinds of environment, although it thrives especially in warm, humid climates. With climate change, there is little doubt that, within a few years, our more northerly metropolitan areas could become biotopes just as welcoming to this species as the Var coastline is today.
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