Mosquitoes found in Iceland for first time after record heat

Mosquitoes have been found in Iceland for the first time after a record-breaking heatwave this spring. Insect enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason discovered two female and one male mosquitoes in Kjós, a glacial valley southwest of Reykjavik, using wine-soaked ropes to observe moths. The mosquitoes were identified as Culiseta annulata, a species that can survive winter. Iceland was previously considered one of the only two mosquito-free havens in the world due to its cold climate. The mosquitoes are common across parts of Europe and North Africa, but it is unclear how they reached Iceland. Further monitoring will be required to determine if the mosquito species has become established in Iceland.

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