Beneath the feet of millions of New Yorkers, a species has survived in the concrete jungle for more than a decade antwhich was found nowhere else in North America, surprising scientists with its unique ability to adapt to Manhattan and other parts of the city.

Where it came from and how it manages to survive in the urban environment was a mystery, but scientists managed to discover its identity and origin. This is a European species known as Lasius emarginatuswhich is usually found in more natural environments in central Europe, according to new research.

Researchers first spotted the insect, which was named ManhattanAntwhile researching ants in New York in 2011. To their surprise, the ant—with a black head and belly and red thorax—didn’t match any of the nearly 800 species found in North America. The researchers speculated that it might be a European species however, then no further research was done.

Over the next few years, their population grew so much that they are now the second most common ant in the area, drawing the attention of scientists and the New Yorkers who live with it, said Clint Penick, assistant professor of entomology and plant pathology at Auburn University in Alabama. .

While entomologists are closely monitoring the alien species to detect environmental impacts, they have a few theories about how the ant arrived in North America and why it adapted so well to the big city, according to a study published in the journal Biological Invasions.

The beginning of the invasion

A 2009 survey did not detect it ManhattanAntwhich suggests that it arrived later. So far, the insect has also been spotted on Long Island and several New Jersey cities, according to the study. Based on the European climates in which the insect can thrive, researchers suspect the ant may spread from Maine to Georgia.

The ‘introduced’ ants have so far spread naturally through ‘mating flights’ – when the winged ants fly away from the nest to form new colonies in the summer. The researchers, however, speculate that the species may spread further via ships and cars.

Ants do not harm humans, however, like any insect, they can be annoying when they end up in apartments, and these ones have reached up to the 6th floor of buildings.

The biggest concern is the potential impact on the environment, such as the trees they inhabit or the native species they could compete with.

Because it has spread so rapidly, scientists worry that it will have the ability to displace native ants. However, this remains to be proven.