The Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Tenerife are working together to control an outbreak of vine phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae), a harmful organism detected at the end of July in a pergola of a private garden and in nearby semi-abandoned lands in Valle de Guerra, in the municipality of La Laguna.
To eradicate the pest, both administrations immediately implemented phytosanitary measures to control the initial outbreak, including the removal of affected plants and their roots.
Additionally, a designated area around the detected point has been set up, where all vineyard plantations, both commercial and non-commercial, are being inspected. In this area, necessary measures aimed at eradicating the parasitic insect will be applied.
At the same time, informational meetings are being held with the island’s wine sector to provide producers with all necessary information so they can identify the presence of the organism in their crops and take appropriate measures in case of detection.
These meetings will extend across the Archipelago. Winemakers who observe symptoms of this pest in their plants must report it to the Agricultural Extension Agencies of the Cabildo of Tenerife or to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Both administrations have stated that this situation does not affect the quality or uniqueness of the wines produced in the Canary Islands.
What is vine phylloxera
The insect currently known as Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, previously called Phylloxera vastatrix, was first described by Asa Fitch in 1855 in the United States. It is a parasite of the vine that causes visible damage to leaves and roots.
On the leaves, its presence causes the formation of galls from the insect’s bites, which are visible on the underside as chlorotic lesions on the front. In the roots, it produces nodules and tubercles. If the infestation reaches the main root, the plant wilts and dies within 2 to 5 years.
The arrival of phylloxera in Europe in 1863 caused a severe crisis in the wine industry, which was not resolved until decades later with the introduction of resistant American rootstocks. In Spain, it was detected in 1878, mainly in Málaga, Girona, and areas near the Duero, with the Canary Islands remaining free of the pest.
Currently, although it does not represent a phytosanitary problem in Europe, it is still considered a quarantine pest in areas where it is not present, such as in the Canary Islands.
The Archipelago holds its own phytosanitary status, defined by the Order of 12 March 1987, which prohibits the importation of vine plant material (except for fruits and seeds), even from the mainland.
To date, The Canary Islands maintained the status of absence of phylloxera, as stated in this regulation.
