For the first time in recorded history, mosquitoes have been confirmed in Iceland. Scientists at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland identified three insects — one male and two females of the species Culiseta annulata — in a garden near Reykjavík, using red-wine soaked rope traps. (The Washington Post)
Iceland had long stood as one of the few mosquito-free places on Earth, thanks to its cold climate and lack of persistent standing water conducive to mosquito breeding. (euronews)
Scientists say the finding is likely linked to warming conditions: Iceland is warming at about four times the global average, creating more favourable conditions for cold-tolerant species. (euronews)
The arriving species, Culiseta annulata, is known across Europe and other cooler regions and is adapted to survive cold winters by overwintering as adults in sheltered spots. It’s not known to be a major vector of disease. (Al Jazeera)
While experts caution that these three mosquitoes may not yet represent a permanent population, they warn that the window for mosquito survival and reproduction is gradually expanding in regions once considered too cold. (The Washington Post)
