Mosquitoes Detected in Iceland for the First Time, Raising Climate Change Concerns
REYKJAVÍK, Iceland – Mosquitoes have been confirmed present in Iceland for the first time, according to the Natural Science Institute of Iceland. The finding, made earlier this month on a farm in Kjós, just north of Reykjavík, marks a significant growth as the island nation was previously one of the last places on Earth without the biting insects – leaving only Antarctica mosquito-free.
The arrival of the Culiseta annulata mosquitoes, which are native to Europe and other Nordic countries, is believed to be linked to a warming climate and increased international freight traffic. Insect enthusiast Björn Hjaltason initially spotted a female mosquito on October 16th, describing it as a “strange fly on a red wine ribbon” to Icelandic broadcaster RUV. He later trapped two more, leading to confirmation by authorities that the insects comprised two females and one male.
This development underscores the broader impact of climate change, particularly in the Arctic region, which is warming at more than double the global average. While Culiseta annulata can tolerate cold weather,typically sheltering in outbuildings and basements,and are not known to carry infections in the areas where they are prevalent,the presence of mosquitoes in Iceland signals a shift in the country’s ecosystem.
The Natural Science institute of Iceland notes that the mosquitoes likely arrived via freight. Previous instances of mosquitoes being found in airplanes in Iceland have been reported. Globally, there are over 3,000 mosquito species, some of which transmit perilous diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and West Nile virus. However, a 2017 study described Culiseta annulata as “a biting nuisance, rather than a deadly foe.”
