In a groundbreaking development, scientists have confirmed the presence of mosquitoes in Iceland for the first time in recorded history, marking a significant shift in the island nation's ecological landscape.
Three specimens of the cold-resistant species Culiseta annulata — two females and one male — were discovered approximately 30 kilometers north of Reykjavik. The insects were collected using wine ropes, a method typically employed to attract moths by soaking fabric strips in sugar heated wine.
This discovery is particularly striking given Iceland’s long-standing status, alongside Antarctica, as one of the few places on Earth without a native mosquito population. Entomologist Matthias Alfredsson of the Natural Science Institute of Iceland confirmed the identification and emphasized the rarity of the event.
“It is the first time mosquitoes have been found in Iceland,” Alfredsson stated. “Their presence suggests that environmental conditions are changing in ways that now support the mosquito life cycle.”
Experts are linking the arrival of mosquitoes to the accelerating effects of climate change. Iceland is currently warming at a rate four times faster than the average across the Northern Hemisphere, creating conditions more hospitable to species previously unable to survive in the region.
The implications of this finding extend beyond entomology. Mosquitoes are known vectors for various diseases, and their emergence in Iceland raises questions about future public health strategies and ecological monitoring.