Reykjavik, Iceland — For the first time in recorded history, mosquitoes have been found in Iceland — one of the few remaining places on Earth believed to be mosquito-free.
Entomologist Matthias Alfredsson of the Natural Science Institute of Iceland confirmed the discovery, telling AFP that three Culiseta annulata mosquitoes — two females and one male — were recently detected about 30 kilometres north of Reykjavik.
“They were all collected from wine ropes aimed at attracting moths,” Alfredsson explained, referring to a technique where ropes soaked in heated, sugary wine are hung outdoors to lure insects.
Until now, Iceland, alongside Antarctica, had been among the rare regions without any native mosquito population.
“This is the first record of mosquitoes occurring in the natural environment in Iceland,” Alfredsson said. He noted that a single specimen of Aedes nigripes, an Arctic mosquito species, had once been discovered aboard an airplane at Keflavik Airport years ago — but that sample was later lost.
Alfredsson suggested the insects may have recently arrived “via ships or containers,” but cautioned that further monitoring in the spring will be needed to determine whether they have established a stable population.
The species, Culiseta annulata, is known to thrive in cold climates, capable of surviving long, harsh winters when temperatures drop below freezing. Alfredsson added that its diverse breeding habitats could help it adapt and persist in Iceland’s challenging environment.
