For the first time on record, mosquitoes have been discovered in Iceland, a sign of how the warming climate is changing one of the world’s coldest nations.
Until this month, Iceland shared a rare distinction with Antarctica as one of the few places on Earth without mosquitoes. But three specimens of Culiseta annulata have now been found in Kiðafell, Kjós, confirming that the insects have finally reached the island.
Matthías Alfreðsson, an entomologist at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, verified the discovery after the insects were sent to him by a local resident. “Three specimens of Culiseta annulata were found — two females and one male. They were all collected from wine ropes used to attract moths,” he said.
The Culiseta annulata, sometimes called the northern house mosquito, is known for its ability to withstand cold climates. Experts believe it may be capable of surviving Icelandic winters by sheltering indoors, in basements and barns.
The insects were first noticed by Björn Hjaltason, a member of the Facebook group Insects in Iceland. “At dusk on October 16, I caught sight of a strange fly on a red wine ribbon,” he recalled. “I immediately suspected what was going on and quickly collected the fly. It was a female.” He later caught two more and sent them for identification.
Scientists have long warned that global heating could make Iceland more hospitable for mosquitoes. The country’s marshes, ponds, and damp summers provide suitable breeding grounds — conditions that, until recently, were kept in check by freezing temperatures.
The discovery comes as the Arctic region warms at roughly four times the pace of the rest of the planet. This year, Iceland has seen record temperatures and collapsing glaciers, while warmer-water fish such as mackerel have begun appearing in its seas.
Globally, the spread of mosquitoes is one of the more troubling indicators of a changing climate. Across Europe, species once confined to the tropics are expanding their reach. In the UK, eggs of the Egyptian mosquito (Aedes aegypti) were found this year, while the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) was detected in Kent. Both are known carriers of diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.
While the mosquitoes found in Iceland pose no immediate health threat, scientists say their arrival marks a turning point, a sign of a planet in transformation.
About the Author
