An “invasive and harmful” small bug that deals painful stings has been found in a popular tourist town in Tenerife, researchers have confirmed. Entomologists Antonio Pérez and Irene Santos from the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology confirmed the presence of the little fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) in the coastal town of Los Cristianos, a stretch boasting golden sandy beaches, water sports and even UK-centric pubs and restaurants, making it a popular choice for Brits.
The tiny creatures, measuring just 1.5 millimetres long, can deliver painful stings, especially when multiple ants strike at once. They can also significantly destroy the local environment. They are capable of forming supercolonies, which can travel for hundreds of kilometres. In the past, little fire ants, also known as the electric ant, have been known to blind animals and decimate entire native ecosystems.
The highly invasive species was discovered near a complex on the edge of a golf course in Los Cristianos, which sparked “immediate containment” efforts by the government, according to Canarian Weekly.
It is suspected that the ants, which are native to Central and South America, arrived on the Canary Island via imported plants. However, this has yet to be confirmed.
Local media have reported that the archipelago’s government has initiated measures to determine the extent of the infestation and is laying down the groundwork for possible eradication.
Residents and tourists in the local area have been urged to “remain vigilant” and report any unusual ant activity to their local authority.
The little fire ant is a light or golden brown colour. They earned their name due to their painful sting relative to their size, which is so venomous that it can subdue large insects and vertebrate prey. They consume other infections, decaying vegetation, seeds and plants.
They are an invasive species that has now spread to parts of Africa, including Gabon and Cameroon, Taiwan, Israel, Hawaii and New Caledonia. They tend to colonise areas associated with humans in warmer regions, including forest edges, agricultural fields, and plantations.