REYKJAVIK, Iceland (FN) — Mosquitoes have been discovered in Iceland for the first time, marking a significant shift for the island nation long considered one of the few mosquito-free regions on Earth.
Three specimens of Culiseta annulata — two females and one male — were found approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Reykjavik, according to Matthias Alfredsson, an entomologist at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland.
“They were all collected from wine ropes designed to attract moths,” Alfredsson said in an email, referring to a method involving sugar-infused heated wine soaked into fabric strips and hung outdoors to lure insects.
Iceland, alongside Antarctica, has historically remained free of native mosquito populations. Alfredsson noted that while a single Aedes nigripes mosquito was once recovered from an aircraft at Keflavik Airport years ago, that specimen was never preserved.
The recent discovery could suggest a new introduction of the species, potentially via shipping containers or other forms of transport, Alfredsson said. However, he emphasized that further monitoring in the spring would be necessary to assess whether the species is establishing itself.
Although climate change has led to warmer temperatures, longer summers, and milder winters — conditions that typically favor mosquito survival — Alfredsson does not attribute the discovery to warming alone.
“This species appears to be well adapted to colder climates,” he said. “Its ability to endure freezing temperatures and its diverse breeding habitats enhance its chances of persisting in Iceland’s challenging environment.”
The finding has prompted scientists to closely monitor the situation, as the presence of mosquitoes could have ecological and public health implications for a country previously untouched by the pests.
