By Abbas Nazil
For the first time in recorded history, mosquitoes have been found in Iceland following an unusually warm season that shattered temperature records across the country.
Insect enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason discovered the insects while observing moths using wine-soaked ropes in Kjós, a glacial valley southwest of Reykjavik.
Over several nights, he captured two female mosquitoes and one male, later confirmed by the Icelandic Institute of Natural History as Culiseta annulata, one of the few mosquito species capable of surviving cold winters.
Iceland had long been recognized as one of the world’s two mosquito-free regions, alongside Antarctica.
Experts attributed this to its cold climate and the absence of stagnant water, which prevents mosquito breeding.
However, this year’s intense heat appears to have changed that.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported that temperatures surpassed 20°C for ten consecutive days in May—an unprecedented streak in the country’s history.
At Eglisstaðir Airport, Iceland recorded its hottest May day ever, reaching 26.6°C.
Such conditions created a more suitable environment for the insects’ survival.
Entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson, who confirmed the discovery, stated that while the mosquitoes are common across Europe and North Africa, it remains unclear how they reached Iceland.
He emphasized that further monitoring would be needed next spring to determine whether the species has established a permanent population.
The Global Heat Health Information Network warned in a June study that rising temperatures could have significant effects on ecosystems adapted to colder climates.
Hjaltason speculated that the mosquitoes might have arrived through imported goods at nearby shipping ports, noting that Grundartangi, located six kilometers away, often receives cargo from other countries.
With climate change accelerating global temperature shifts, Iceland’s mosquito discovery may serve as another indicator of how even the coldest regions are no longer immune to ecological transformation.
