Mosquitoes have been discovered in Iceland for the first time, coinciding with unprecedented heat experienced this spring. Insect enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason encountered the mosquitoes over several nights while using wine-soaked ropes to observe moths. He identified two female mosquitoes and one male, which were later confirmed to be Culiseta annulata, a species known to survive winter in various regions.
Before this discovery, Iceland was one of two known mosquito-free areas globally, along with Antarctica, largely due to its cold temperatures and lack of stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed. The mosquitoes were located in Kjós, a glacial valley southwest of Reykjavik. Hjaltason posted about his find on a Facebook group dedicated to local wildlife, describing the insects as “a strange fly on a red wine ribbon.” After sending the specimens to the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson confirmed their identification but indicated that the origin of the mosquitoes is still unclear.
Iceland experienced record-breaking high temperatures this year, exceeding typical May maxima of 20°C (68°F) for an unprecedented ten consecutive days in various locations. The hottest day recorded in May reached 26.6°C (79.8°F) at Eglisstaðir Airport. Experts like those from the Global Heat Health Information Network have noted that such temperature shifts could significantly impact local ecosystems, which are adapted to colder climates.
Alfreðsson remarked that ongoing monitoring is essential to determine if the mosquito species has established itself in Iceland. Hjaltason speculated that the mosquitoes may have arrived via shipping containers, given the proximity of Grundartangi, a shipping area about six kilometers from his location, raising questions about the potential for further insect introductions to the region.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyz3vv62pgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss