A colony of invasive ‘super ants’ with a fatal attraction to electricity has been discovered in Yorkshire.

It is one of three new infestations of the ant - known for building massive colonies of tens of thousands - which have been found in the UK this year.

The super ants seem naturally drawn to electrical currents which often kill them, and because they can take up residence in plug sockets and power sources, they can cause a fire hazard.

Researchers at the University of York are warning their impact on biodiversity could be huge.

First discovered in 2009, there have now been six known UK infestations of the Lasius neglectus which thrive in greenhouses and domestic gardens.

Originating from Asia, they are likely to have arrived in the UK through the import of plants from infected areas.

They pose no threat to humans but non-indigenous species can dramatically alter ecosystems and drive native species to extinction.

It is estimated invasive species cost the UK £1.7billion a year through damage and management costs.

The exact location of the Yorkshire colony has not been revealed.

Dr Elva Robinson at the University of York believes many more sites are yet to be uncovered.

Dr Elva Robinson

Since 2014, she has worked alongside PhD student Phillip Buckham-Bonnett to establish the extent of the invasion. Their work has formed the basis of a Rapid Risk Assessment submitted to the government’s Animal & Plant Health Agency, offering recommendations for management on a national scale.

The super ant is smaller than the common native UK variety, but builds huge colonies with many queens and interconnected nests which can stretch for miles, allowing it to out-compete native ants for aphids and space.

It originated in Turkey and has spread across the continent. It was first discovered in the UK at a National Trust property in Gloucestershire, where a colony of around 35,000 was found in 2009. It has since been found in London, Cambridgeshire, and this year, in Yorkshire and two sites on the south coast.

Dr Robinson said: “In the sites we have studied, it is clear they are excluding the native ants.

“These new ants are not aggressive, they do not sting and they pose no harm to humans beyond people finding it unpleasant to have an infestation.”