Tenerife residents unite against silent termite invasion
They make no noise, but they advance relentlessly. By the time anyone notices, they have already damaged structures, crops, timber, and roofs. The threat of subterranean termites in Tenerife is not new, but its persistence has forged a new citizen response: affected neighbours have joined forces. It was at a meeting held in Tacoronte on 11 December where some thirty people decided to take a stand. Thus, the Association of Those Affected by Subterranean Termites was born—a neighbourhood platform seeking vigilance, coordination, and action against a plague that refuses to disappear and is once again putting areas like La Caridad in check, where a new active outbreak was detected in November.
A destructive and persistent species
The species Reticulitermes flavipes, introduced to Tenerife, is considered one of the most destructive in the world due to its ability to consume wood from the inside out. Since its detection in 2017 in Tacoronte, it has forced the creation of eradication plans that have now treated nearly 800,000 square metres across five municipalities: La Laguna, Tacoronte, Adeje, Arona and Santiago del Teide. The new outbreak in La Caridad affects a potential area of 200,000 square metres and, according to technicians’ estimates, could have been active for at least four years.
Juan Pestano, head of the group at Tragsatec, the company in charge of the treatment, explains that “the project was at a stable stage, with the treated areas in reduction, until the alarm was raised in November.” From that point, the technical plan had to be reoriented to contain the new outbreak as soon as possible.
A new voice for affected neighbours
The residents have already submitted the documentation to formalise the association with the Ministry of the Presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands and hope to be registered officially. Although the legal process is not yet complete, the group is already operating de facto. “We are absolutely terrified,” they admitted during the meeting. Beyond informing and monitoring, the association aims to be an interlocutor with the authorities and to prevent mistakes such as the dumping of wood and pruning waste near the outbreak, which could worsen the situation.
They have also requested a meeting with Blanca Pérez, head of the Environment Department of the Tenerife Island Council, to ask for greater speed in projects to transform wood affected by forest fires, another potential route of propagation.
The scale of the challenge
Although the percentage may seem low, the territorial scope of the plague is significant: it is estimated that the termite could affect up to six million square metres in Tenerife, 0.3% of the entire island. In total, more than 21,500 eradication stations have been installed to control its advance, with Tacoronte being the municipality with the most devices (over 10,000). In Santiago del Teide, by contrast, there are barely 425.
The treatments include perimeter barriers, baits, and traps designed for the termites to carry the poison back into the nest. The average time to control each area ranges from six to nine months, although some zones have been under constant control for years.
A call for public vigilance
Tragsatec insists that public collaboration is key. “It is important that residents remain alert and contact us through the established channels,” Pestano notes. Key recommendations include: inspecting gardens, storage rooms, and damp areas; reporting any suspicious presence; avoiding the accumulation of plant waste on plots or vacant land; and allowing access to homes for preventive inspection.
The termite eradication service was declared “essential” in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, and its duration is estimated to be between five and ten more years. Although some areas have been clear for a long time, the goal is not only to eliminate visible outbreaks but to prevent resurgences and maintain long-term stability.
Protecting the island’s heritage
The creation of this new neighbourhood association marks a turning point in the fight against one of the Canaries’ most silent yet persistent plagues. It is not just about exterminating insects, but about protecting urban and rural heritage, and building a network of mutual support against a threat that respects neither borders nor building materials.
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