Three mosquitoes have been found in West Iceland, the first confirmed discovery of mosquitoes on Icelandic soil, according to the Icelandic Institute of Natural History.
As reported by RÚV, the insects were identified earlier this month by Björn Hjaltason, who reported the find in the Facebook group Insects in Iceland.
“At dusk on October 16, I caught sight of a strange fly on a red wine ribbon,” Björn said, referring to the trap he uses to attract insects. “I immediately suspected what was going on and quickly collected the fly. It was a female.”
Björn later captured two more specimens and sent them to the Institute of Natural History, where entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson confirmed they were mosquitoes, specifically the species Culiseta annulata.
A Small Buzz in West Iceland
Matthías described the find as significant, noting that this cold-resistant species can survive Icelandic conditions by sheltering through winter in basements and barns.
“This is the first time mosquitoes have been found in Iceland,” Matthías said, adding that while individual flies have occasionally been found on aircraft arriving in the country, none had previously been discovered outdoors.
Scientists have long predicted mosquitoes could establish themselves in Iceland, particularly after the louse fly (Hippoboscidae) became established in 2015.
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