Is the spread of Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) through the western Palearctic inevitable? First evidence of presence in the Canary Islands

Wasmannia auropunctata , also known as the ‘little fire ant’ or ‘electric ant’, is an invasive species that represents a serious threat to biodiversity and public health globally due to its intrinsic characteristics and low detectability. Here, through a combination of morphological and molecular identification, the first record of this species in the oceanic archipelago of the Canary Islands is presented. Molecular data reveal that the population from the Canary Islands is completely different from another population established in Málaga (mainland Spain), which suggests that the western Palearctic has been colonised from at least two independent events. The early detection of this species in a very limited area provides an important temporal window for its eradication and the prevention of its dispersal to other areas.