Many people in Manhattan have reported their homes being taken over by ants. Katie Guhl is among those people. Last May, she went on a trip to attend a wedding. She reported that her kitchen was infested with ants when she returned.
“There were no crumbs to be had,” she said. She had left her house spotless before she left.
Many people have been sharing stories about ants taking over their homes, especially on the Brooklyn subreddit. In one instance, someone said, “[w]oke up this morning to ants crawling around my living room. I live on the 3rd floor and have never had problems with any insects.”
Another instance of ants taking over our home is when a reporter noticed ants scurrying across her room one day. She told people that have never seen ants in her house ever. She said they just magically appeared.
Ants aren’t as common as cockroaches in NYC, as ants usually like to stay in the soil outside. However, scientists recently discovered that an ant species is now trying to live in people’s homes in the city rather than in their native habitat, the ground.
Samantha Kennet is a researcher who specializes in ants. She says that this ant species is not native to the United States. Instead, this species called the Lasius emarginatus is native to Europe.
“My research focuses on understanding how this ant, now one of the most common ants in New York City, has been able to be so successful, surviving in highly urban habitats,” Ms. Kennett said.
Dr. Rob Dunn, a professor at North Carolina University, believes that the Lasius emarginatus, nicknamed the ManhattAnts, are just inside people’s houses looking for water. They won’t stay there forever. Their natural home is in the ground.
“There were no crumbs to be had,” she said. She had left her house spotless before she left.
Many people have been sharing stories about ants taking over their homes, especially on the Brooklyn subreddit. In one instance, someone said, “[w]oke up this morning to ants crawling around my living room. I live on the 3rd floor and have never had problems with any insects.”
Another instance of ants taking over our home is when a reporter noticed ants scurrying across her room one day. She told people that have never seen ants in her house ever. She said they just magically appeared.
Ants aren’t as common as cockroaches in NYC, as ants usually like to stay in the soil outside. However, scientists recently discovered that an ant species is now trying to live in people’s homes in the city rather than in their native habitat, the ground.
Samantha Kennet is a researcher who specializes in ants. She says that this ant species is not native to the United States. Instead, this species called the Lasius emarginatus is native to Europe.
“My research focuses on understanding how this ant, now one of the most common ants in New York City, has been able to be so successful, surviving in highly urban habitats,” Ms. Kennett said.
Dr. Rob Dunn, a professor at North Carolina University, believes that the Lasius emarginatus, nicknamed the ManhattAnts, are just inside people’s houses looking for water. They won’t stay there forever. Their natural home is in the ground.
