Mosquitoes have been discovered in Iceland for the first time, confirming that the country’s climate is changing and becoming increasingly favorable for insect survival. The Guardian reported the finding, citing local scientists.
Matthías Alfredsson, an entomologist at Iceland’s Institute of Natural History, confirmed the discovery of three specimens of the species Culiseta annulata — two females and one male. He personally identified the insects after receiving them from a local amateur researcher.
According to Alfredsson, this mosquito species is highly resistant to cold and can survive the winter by sheltering in basements and sheds. Such adaptability may allow the species to establish a permanent presence in Iceland.
Experts have long suggested that mosquitoes could eventually appear on the island, as it offers favorable breeding conditions such as wetlands, ponds, and moist lowlands. However, many insect species have so far been unable to endure Iceland’s harsh climate. Warming in the country, though, is happening about four times faster than in most parts of the Northern Hemisphere, gradually changing the environmental balance.
For many years, Iceland remained one of the few places on Earth without a mosquito population. Now, Antarctica is the only region that still holds that distinction.
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