Hold onto your bug spray 🦟 – Iceland’s long-standing reputation as a mosquito-free haven is flapping out of the window! Researchers at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland have spotted the island’s first wild mosquitoes, three individuals of the species Culiseta annulata, about 30 miles north of Reykjavík.
Matthias Alfredsson, an entomologist who led the discovery, explains they were trapped using a sweet wine rope method – sugar-soaked fabric strips luring nighttime critters. Alfredsson says they found two females and one male, marking a historic first for the island nation.
Unlike Antarctica, which remains mozzie-free, Iceland’s record has finally cracked – though there was a one-off Arctic mosquito found years ago at Keflavík airport, now lost to science. This time, the findings were in the wild, sparking questions about how they arrived.
Alfredsson points to ships and shipping containers as likely culprits, carrying stowaways across icy seas. Yet it’s not just about hitchhiking: Culiseta annulata is built for the cold, able to survive freezing winters and exploit diverse breeding spots.
While climate change gets the blame for shifting species, Alfredsson isn’t convinced. He notes this mosquito thrives in chilly climates, pointing to its knack for long, cold seasons. Still, warmer temperatures and longer summers could tip the balance, so the team plans spring monitoring to see if these bugs become permanent locals.
Whether they’ll turn Icelanders into full-time mozzie swatters remains to be seen. For now, the land of ice and fire is embracing a new – and unexpected – buzzing neighbor! ❄️🔥
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
