Britons warned a favourite holiday hotspot could soon be overrun with pests

British tourists have been warned experts expect a favourite summer holiday destination in Europe to suffer “major cockroach infestations” over the next few months.

UK nationals made up the largest group of visitors heading to Spain in 2023, with more than 17 million crossing the country’s borders.

A similar number is expected to reach Spanish towns, beaches and cities this year.

But the enthusiasm of many planning their holidays to Spain may be dampened by the recent remarks by the country’s general director of the National Association of Environmental Health Companies (Anecpla), Jorge Galván.

Following warnings cockroach infestations may be expected this summer, he listed the two main reasons for the surge in the number of pests. 

He said: “On the one hand, the increase in temperatures as a result of climate change is causing insects such as bedbugs and cockroaches to accelerate their life cycle exponentially.

“On the other hand, there is the evidence that cockroaches have been suffering a series of random genetic mutations in recent years that are making them resistant to the biocidal products that, until now, have been used to control them.”

As, weeks before the official arrival of the summer, several cities in Spain are already in the grip of blistering heat, experts noted cockroaches are among the insects known to multiply their reproduction speed when temperatures are higher than 28C. 

Cordoba and Seville, two cities in the southern region of Andalusia, have been forecasted to reach 40C this week.

Noting the early arrival of hot temperatures, Mr Galván said: “The heat arrives in the middle of spring and does not end until well into autumn, so cockroach populations have only increased.”

So far this year, Spanish authorities have reported a rise of up to 33 percent in cockroaches compared to the rate in 2023, according to Spanish news outlet La Razon.

The main concern surrounding a rise in the cockroach population is the possible transmission of diseases such as, among others, salmonellosis and dysentery.