In a groundbreaking discovery, three mosquitoes have been found in Iceland this October, marking the first record of these insects in the country”s history. Previously, Iceland was considered one of the few places in the world devoid of mosquitoes.
The mosquitoes identified belong to the species Culiseta annulata, known for its resilience to cold temperatures. The discovery was initially reported by enthusiast Bjórrn Hjaltason in a Facebook group called “Insects in Iceland.” On October 16, he spotted what appeared to be an unusual fly in the municipality of Kjósa in southern Iceland. After this initial sighting, Hjaltason collected two additional specimens and submitted them for analysis to the Institute of Natural History of Iceland. Their findings confirmed his suspicions that these insects were indeed mosquitoes.
Entomologist Matthiás Alfredsson from the Institute explained that the Culiseta annulata species is particularly hardy in cold conditions, suggesting that these mosquitoes may have arrived in Iceland to stay. While this is the first instance of mosquitoes living freely in Iceland, some specimens had previously been discovered in the fuselage of planes that landed in the country.
When asked about the potential origins of the mosquitoes, Hjaltason speculated that they may have arrived through the nearby port of Grundartangi, where container ships frequently dock. Scientists had already predicted that it was only a matter of time before mosquito species common in Scandinavia or the British Isles would settle in Iceland.
Iceland, located at the edge of the Arctic Circle, has been one of the few habitable places on Earth without mosquitoes, largely due to its geographical isolation, which has also resulted in the absence of snakes. Additionally, the climate, characterized by rapid cycles of freezing and thawing, has made it challenging for mosquitoes to survive and reproduce.
However, scientists believe that climate change may lead to warmer autumns and springs, allowing water sources to remain unfrozen longer. This change could facilitate the establishment of mosquitoes in Iceland. Notably, Greenland, which shares a similar latitude, has had a stable mosquito population since the end of the last glaciation.
