Panic in the Canary Islands after foreign invaders threaten 500-year-old industry

The Canary Islands have been put on red alert after a devastating pest has been detected for the first time on Tenerife.

The Spanish islands were one of the few places across the globe not to have been impacted by Phylloxera, a tiny, aphid-like insect that causes havoc to grapevines, largely due to their isolation and volcanic soils.

It attacks roots and leaves, causing serious damage and weakening of the plants, devastating vineyards.

Originally from North America, phylloxera was introduced to Europe in the 19th century where it caused widespread devastation to wine producers.

However, the Canaries have remained free of the pest until this month when it was detected for the first time at two vineyards in the subtropical north of Tenerife, placing its vineyard industry at great risk.

It has since been detected at about 30, mainly disused, vineyards which were under no management, according to the island's agriculture agency and the Tenerife Island Council, the two governing bodies that have been managing the response.

The discovery has sent shockwaves through the island's grape growers, according to tour guides on the island.

One female local guide told coach passengers on a recent tour to the island's Mount Teide (pictured above) said: "There have been vineyards on the island since the 15th century and it has become an important industry and also to tourism.

"We have managed to remain free of Phylloxera right until now, so its discovery at a vineyard this month is devastating for the vineyards, tourism and the island as a whole."

An emergency meeting was held in Tenerife on August 8, to devise a plan to isolate the affected sites, prevent further spread, and urge growers to monitor their vineyards closely, reports decanter.com.

Unfortunately there is no currently no cure or chemical control to eradicate the pests.

Affected areas have to graft plants onto American rootstocks, which have developed natural defences to the bug.

Vines across the Canaries are planted on their own roots, placing them at greater risk.

It is believed the outbreak was cause after a local resident planted infected vines in their garden, before the pest spread to an abandoned vineyard in Valle de Guerra.

Its presence was confirmed there on August 1 with a second case was discovered days later in La Matanza de Acentejo, also in northern Tenerife.

Agustín García Farráis of Bodegas Tajinaste told Decanter.com: "We are all very concerned, and hoping it is only a punctual case that can be contained.

"Almost all of our plantings are done by massal selection, and we have this strong heritage of taking vines from our neighbours. We could lose a huge part of our own-rooted viticultural heritage if not."

Producers from across the Canary Islands attended the emergency meeting and are working together to establish protocols to contain and control the outbreak.

The Association of Winegrowers and Winemakers of the Canary Islands (AVIBO) issued an emergency advisory to producers to report any suspected cases and avoid potential contamination by disinfecting clothes, boots and tools, and not taking any leaves from the vineyards in the harvest bins.

Juan Jesús Méndez, President of DO Islas Canarias, said: "We need to have a clear mind, a defined focus and motivation to move together. I am motivated to face this challenge and protect these centenarian, pre-phylloxera vineyards that are such an essential part of our heritage."

This week officials on Lanzarote, where there have still been no outbreaks, produced a "roadmap" with specific measures for the prevention of phylloxera on the island.

It includes immediate actions from winegrowers and wineries, and includes the creation of an island monitoring commission to monitor the threat, reports lavozdelanzarote.com.

Lanzarote President Oswaldo Betancor reiterated a call to winegrowers and the public not to introduce plant material from other islands or areas.

He said: "Prevention is our best tool. We have an exemplary and committed sector, and we are confident that, working together, we can keep Lanzarote free of phylloxera."