Colonies of ants have been spotted in many locations in western Reykjavík, including the Vesturbaejarlaug swimming pool. It is not clear what kind of species the ants are or why they have become so numerous.
Ólafur Gunnarsson, the technical director of the capital region’s swimming pools, told Fréttabladid that he suspects the invasion of ants is caused by high temperatures. He said there is no danger for swimming pool guests, but admits that the ants are a bother.
“There are not just ants at the swimming pool, but also elsewhere around the town. I’ve spotted ants by the apartment complexes near the swimming pool area,” Gunnarsson said.
Gunnarsson said he believes the ants in question are of the species Bryobia praetosa, a small-sized reddish acarina called rodamaur (“red ant”) in Icelandic, but he is still waiting for a sample to be defined.
Red ants usually live off grass, but avoid water, so swimming pool guests should not be alarmed by the creatures.
