Invasive new arrival: The Asian needle ant, originally from East Asia, has now also arrived in Germany. Researchers have discovered a colony of this ant species for the first time in Stuttgart. The needle ant Brachyponera chinensis is considered problematic because it displaces native ant species and because its stings can trigger an allergy and, in extreme cases, even anaphylactic shock.
The Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis) originally comes from East Asia, but has spread to other continents in the last hundred years. The social insects, which live in colonies, were first detected in the USA in 1932. In recent years, the first occurrences of this invasive species have also been reported in Europe. Researchers discovered the first specimen in Naples in 2020, followed later by further finds in Italy, including on Lake Como.
The problem: The Asian needle ant is known for displacing native ant species and is therefore considered a serious risk to native biodiversity and ecosystems. This species can also pose a health risk to humans. Because their stings are painful and the proteins injected can trigger severe allergic reactions and skin rashes. Because of these risks, the European Union added the Asian needle ant to the so-called “Union List” in 2025 and thus classified it as a potentially particularly harmful invasive species.
Ant colony in the city park
Now biologists led by Brendon Boudinot from the Senckenberg Research Institute and Nature Museum Frankfurt have discovered a colony of the Asian needle ant in Germany for the first time. They tracked down the ant species during a so-called “BioBlitz”, a temporary local species inventory, in June 2025 in Stuttgart. They came across several animals of this invasive species in the city’s Rosenstein Park. They identified the East Asian species based on characteristics such as body shape, surface structure and eyes. “This is the first confirmed evidence of this species in Germany,” reports Boudinot.
Further findings showed that these ants had already established a colony in Stuttgart Park. “We were able to discover a complete colony of Asian needle ants with offspring in the park,” continued Boudinot. “This shows that these are not just individual introduced animals, but very likely a local population capable of overwintering.” The find also represents the first evidence of an incipient settlement of Brachyponera chinensis in Central Europe.
Introduced by imported plants
The researchers suspect that the Asian needle ant was introduced to Stuttgart via imported plants. “Urban areas are often at the center of the establishment of alien species: here they increasingly arrive as stowaways, for example in potted plants or other imported goods, and are often able to establish themselves particularly well,” explains senior author Maura Haas-Renninger from the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart. “The fact that we found winged queens in Stuttgart’s Rosenstein Park shows that the animals could already spread independently here.”
It is still unclear how widespread the Asian needle ant is in Germany. The research team now recommends targeted monitoring in order to detect possible further spread of the invasive species at an early stage. “Our evidence highlights the central importance of biodiversity monitoring: Only if we know which species are spreading or declining can targeted protective measures be developed,” emphasizes Haas-Renninger.
Source: Senckenberg Society for Natural Research; Specialist article: Zootaxa, doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5785.1.11