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Mosquitoes have been spotted in Iceland for the first time, overturning the country’s reputation as the world’s only mosquito-free country.
[Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Yi] According to a report by Iceland Review on the 20th, the Icelandic Institute of Natural History officially confirmed the first sighting of mosquitoes in the country, overturning the prevailing perception that Iceland is the world’s only mosquito-free country.
The report states that local insect enthusiast Hartasson shared this key discovery on his social media. On the evening of October 16th, Hartasson found three insects that looked like mosquitoes in a trap and immediately sent them to the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. Entomologist Mattiasson confirmed that the three insects belonged to the species Trichoderma annularis.
Mattiasson emphasized the significance of this discovery, saying, “This is the first time mosquitoes have been confirmed to be active outdoors in Iceland.” Although individual mosquitoes have occasionally been spotted on flights to Iceland, they have never been detected outdoors. Regarding the mosquitoes’ origins, Hartasson speculated, “They likely came from an industrial area about 6 kilometers from me, where goods are constantly transported across borders via ships and containers. They were most likely brought into Iceland this way.”
In fact, scientists have long predicted that as the environment changes, mosquitoes could gradually establish a stable population in Iceland. Turkey’s Anadolu Agency commented on the 20th that the discovery of mosquitoes in Iceland highlights how global climate and environmental changes are driving species that can survive cold environments to expand further north to higher latitudes.
Notably, before this discovery, Iceland was one of the few places in the world with no mosquitoes and suitable living conditions. However, the mystery of its mosquito-free environment has long remained unsolved. The New York Times reported that Iceland’s temperatures are not extremely cold, and it has plenty of water—ponds, lakes, and other reservoirs necessary for mosquito breeding—while mosquitoes also breed in large numbers in surrounding areas. These contradictory phenomena have added a layer of mystery to Iceland’s mosquito-free environment.
