Iceland's First Mosquitoes Buzz In After Unbelievable Heatwave!

For the first time ever, mosquitoes have been discovered in Iceland, a country that was previously known as one of only two places in the world without these insects. The other mosquito-free zone is Antarctica. This surprising discovery happened after Iceland experienced record-breaking heat this spring, with temperatures much higher than usual. Normally, Iceland's cold climate and lack of stagnant water make it difficult for mosquitoes to survive and breed. However, this year, the country saw temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius for ten straight days in May, which is very unusual. The hottest day ever recorded in May reached 26. 6 degrees Celsius at Eglisstaðir Airport.

The mosquitoes were found by Bjorn Hjaltason, an insect enthusiast, while he was observing moths at night using ropes soaked in wine. Instead of moths, he noticed some strange flies and realized they were mosquitoes. He found two female mosquitoes and one male, and shared his discovery on a local wildlife Facebook page, posting pictures and describing the insects as something he had never seen before. Hjaltason sent the mosquitoes to the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, where entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson confirmed that they were Culiseta annulata, a species that can survive cold winters. This species is common in parts of Europe and North Africa, but it is unclear how they arrived in Iceland.

Experts believe that the mosquitoes may have come to Iceland through ships or containers, as the area where they were found is close to a port. Hjaltason speculated that things often arrive from ships, and if three mosquitoes were found in his garden, there could be more elsewhere. The World Population Review explained that Iceland's cold climate and lack of stagnant water were key reasons for its mosquito-free status. But with the recent heatwaves, the situation may be changing. A study by the Global Heat Health Information Network warned that such temperature shifts could have significant impacts on Iceland's delicate ecosystems, which are adapted to cold weather. Last year was the hottest year ever recorded globally, and the United Nations' climate body has confirmed that human activity has warmed the atmosphere, oceans, and land. Scientists say more monitoring will be needed in the coming spring to see if mosquitoes have truly established themselves in Iceland.