The Canary Islands are marking a major milestone in the fight against invasive termites, with successful eradication in several regions thanks to cutting-edge methods developed through a pioneering scientific study.
The initiative, led by the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA) and supported by the Cabildo de Tenerife, has brought relief to residents who have struggled with destructive infestations in recent years.
According to David Hernández, a lead researcher at IPNA, termite colonies have been fully eliminated in the municipalities of Arona, Adeje, and Santiago del Teide. While these areas show no signs of active infestation, authorities will continue to monitor them over the coming years before officially declaring them termite-free.
The campaign represents a significant victory against Reticulitermes flavipes, an aggressive and invasive termite species that has caused extensive damage across parts of the island. Other regions, such as the coastal areas of La Laguna and parts of Tacoronte, are still battling larger infestations and remain under active treatment and surveillance.
The IPNA study drew from research conducted in mainland cities like Granada and Seville, where similar termite eradication projects proved effective in under a year. The pest control company Anticimex, which was involved in those efforts, confirmed that these areas have remained termite-free for over a decade, demonstrating the long-term potential of the methods used.
In contrast to traditional chemical barriers, now banned in Spain due to their environmental impact, the focus in Tenerife has been on environmentally safe bait systems. These systems use hexaflumuron, a substance that disrupts termite development by preventing the formation of their exoskeletons. The termites ingest the bait, which then spreads through the colony, leading to its collapse.
The Canary Islands project has further advanced this approach by deploying more durable and effective bait systems. Since 2019, the programme has been coordinated by the Cabildo in partnership with Tragsatec for eradication operations and IPNA for scientific oversight.
Despite the unique challenges posed by the aggressive termite species on the islands, the collaborative effort has succeeded in halting infestations in key areas and reducing the overall impact on affected communities.
