The Canary Islands are facing a serious threat: A tiny invasive ant species, only 1.5 millimeters long, known as the “little fire ant” or “electric ant” (Wasmanniaauropunctata), has triggered an alarm in Los Cristianos, Tenerife. Its presence poses a significant danger to public health and biodiversity, as highlighted by a recent study involving Toni Pérez, a researcher at the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC). Pérez warns in an interview with 20minutos: “It is a serious problem and apparently it will expand.”
Early Detection in Tenerife: A Race Against Time
The “electric ant” was discovered in early 2025. Thanks to early identification, its spread has so far been “limited,” according to Pérez’s research (“Is the spread of Wasmannia auropunctata across the Western Palearctic inevitable? First evidence of its occurrence in the Canary Islands”). However, the danger is far from over. “You can never be sure that it isn’t in more places. You can be half a meter away, and if you don’t have the right magnifying glass, you won’t see it,” Pérez explains. This makes combating the tiny yet highly productive ant particularly difficult. It can produce “large colonies of up to 20,000 individuals per square meter,” which further exacerbates the challenge.
Threat to the Canary Islands’ Biodiversity
Despite its small size, the little fire ant can cause immense damage. “It could reduce biodiversity and affect vertebrate and invertebrate communities because they are carnivorous and predatory,” warns Pérez. The invasive species displaces and eliminates native species through its huge colonies. In the Canary Islands, this threat is even more acute than in other affected regions like Málaga, as there are fewer competing insect species. Pérez therefore predicts that the situation in Tenerife could “settle more easily,” underlining the vulnerability of the local ecosystem.
Health Risks from the Electric Ant’s Bite
The fire ant’s bite feels like “a small electric shock” and can cause hives and severe pain, as reported by the CSIC researcher from his own experience. However, the real problem arises with multiple bites. “If a farmer works under a tree (where it usually nests) and individuals start to fall, 70 or 80 can bite them,” Pérez explains. Such mass bites can “cause allergic reactions,” which in extreme cases can be fatal. From South and Central America, the ant’s native habitat, there have already been reports of corneal glaucoma and vision loss due to eye bites.
Cost of the Invasion: A Financial and Ecological Burden
Combating the little fire ant involves significant costs. Pérez cites a 2022 study that estimates the global costs for controlling this species to be up to 44 billion euros. This sum includes not only direct control but also potential damages caused by its colonization of urban areas. “They can enter houses, yards, or other places and, moreover, also carry some aphids or pests,” causing indirect damage.
Prevention and Control: The Canary Government’s Strategy
To avert a disaster, the Canary Islands government is focusing on prevention and targeted control. “The tasks are currently focused on delimiting the distribution area,” explains Pérez. In addition, preventive measures are being taken by “looking in nearby areas such as gardens or other parks for sedentary populations.” Once the extent of the invasion is clear, the administration will initiate “eradication procedures.” This will involve using specific baits with toxins that only affect this ant species to avoid collateral damage to other insects. Pérez emphasizes the urgency: “The effort that a powerful settlement campaign can entail is much less than if you don’t let it go and the species advances.” Otherwise, the situation could become so large that only palliative treatments would be possible, similar to common household ants.
