For the first time ever, mosquitoes have been spotted in Iceland, an event that scientists directly attribute to rapid global warming. Until now, Iceland, alongside Antarctica, was one of the few regions on Earth without a native mosquito population.
Iceland is warming at a rate four times faster than the northern hemisphere average, making its previously cold environment more suitable for species that could not survive there before. This warming has already caused glacial melting and the arrival of warmer-water fish, such as mackerel, in Icelandic waters.
According to reports from the Guardian, the first mosquitoes identified belong to the species Culiseta annulata, known for its resistance to cold. Entomologist Matthea Alfrensson from the Icelandic Institute of Natural Sciences confirmed the identification of specimens sent by a citizen. “Three specimens, two females and one male, were found in the Kintafel area in Kios,” he explained, noting that they were collected with special traps commonly used to attract moths.
Culiseta annulata can survive Icelandic winters by taking shelter in basements and warehouses. Amateur naturalist Bjorn Hialtason, who first spotted the insects, described the moment: “One October afternoon I saw an unusual fly on the trap tape and immediately knew what was happening.”
The arrival of mosquitoes in Iceland is yet another symptom of global warming. As the planet warms, species that were once limited to tropical regions are expanding further north. In Britain, for instance, eggs of the Egyptian mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and individuals of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) have already been recorded this year.
This unprecedented event in Iceland highlights the far-reaching ecological impacts of climate change, showing how even the coldest regions are becoming vulnerable to species once thought incapable of surviving there.
