NYC's Newest Invasive Species: ManhattAnts Are Taking Over! How They Got Here & What It Means For the City

NYC's Newest Invasive Species: ManhattAnts are Taking Over! How They Got Here & What It Means For the City

A new kind of ant is marching through NYC, and it's raising some eyebrows (and concerns). It's called the ManhattAnt, and it's not a new species, but rather an invasive one from Europe – Lasius emarginatus.

Scientists have been tracking this ant since it first showed up on Manhattan in 2011, starting on Broadway between 63rd and 76th Streets. Since then, the ManhattAnt has become one of the most dominant ant species in the city, and it's spreading rapidly, expanding at a rate of more than one mile per year into New Jersey and Long Island. Experts predict it could even reach as far north as Maine and as far south as Atlanta.

What makes this ant so successful in NYC? Scientists are still trying to figure that out. It's not a particularly dominant species in its native Europe, and it's not especially known for adapting to urban environments. This makes its New York City takeover even more surprising.

Why Should We Care About The ManhattAnt?

While the ManhattAnt is an annoyance to many New Yorkers (they're known to climb and can quickly swarm an apartment), it could pose a serious ecological threat. Some researchers are concerned about its impact on the city's tree population, which is crucial for removing carbon and air pollution. The ManhattAnts form mutually beneficial relationships with tree-damaging insects like aphids, feeding on their sugary secretions (honeydew). This could mean bad news for the city's urban forest.

What's Being Done About The ManhattAnt?

Scientists are using a combination of traditional ant research (collecting samples, analyzing DNA) and citizen science (programs like Project ManhattAnt on iNaturalist) to track the spread of the ManhattAnt. The more we know about this invasive species, the better equipped we'll be to manage its impact on the city's environment.

For now, it's clear that the ManhattAnt is enjoying its big city life, but we'll be watching closely to see how its story unfolds.