The country was one of the few regions in the world that did not have this insect. Scientists link it to rising temperatures.
Iceland, which is the island in the North Atlantic recognized for its glaciers and volcanic landscapesit was always one of the few places in the world without mosquitoes.
For many years, the particular feature of this site placed picturesque Iceland as one of the spaces in the world free of these insects that cause diseases and discomfort, but recently an unexpected event occurred, which was the discovery of the first mosquitoes in that territory. In addition to evidencing the effects of climate change, it opens a new chapter for the local environment of the area.
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What was once a natural stronghold of cold and wind is now threatened by increasingly mild temperatures, longer periods of summer activity, and the possibility of cold-adapted species establishing themselves.
In that context, the appearance of the first mosquitoes in Iceland alerts not only about a small insect but about an ecosystem that could be being affected by broader dynamics of the planet.
How mosquitoes got to Iceland
The first mosquitoes were seen in a rural area near Reykjavikwhere a local entomology enthusiast set a rope trap filled with red wine to catch moths, but discovered a mosquito that was later identified as Culiseta Annulata, which is a cold-resistant species.
It is unknown how the mosquitoes entered. However, researchers point out that The Icelandic environment is becoming more hospitable to insectswhether due to the increase in average temperature, milder winters and longer summers or the existence of humidity and ponds that make it easy for mosquitoes to breed.
Although it is still not clear whether these mosquitoes will be able to reproduce, survive the Icelandic winter and generate a stable population, the discovery makes it clear that Iceland can no longer be considered totally mosquito-free.
Source: Ambito
