Mosquitoes spotted in Iceland for the first time in recorded history
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For the first time in reported history, mosquitoes landed in Iceland.
The Scandinavian country, just south of the Arctic Circle, is on the rise popular travel destination due to its vast landscape, geothermal energy and unique wildlife.
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Another advantage of traveling to Iceland is that mosquitoes have never lived on the European island until now.
Icelandic broadcast network RUV announced that scientists at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History have confirmed the first mosquitoes in Iceland.
Reykjavík, Iceland, is the country’s capital and largest city, close to where the first mosquitoes were spotted. (iStock)
3 mosquitoes seen western Iceland, near Reykjavik The capital and largest city of the country.
The insects were spotted earlier this month by Björn Hjaltason, who reported the find in a Facebook group called “Insects in Iceland”.
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“On the evening of October 16, at the beginning of sunset, I saw a strange fly on a tape,” Hjaltason said, referring to a tape he used to attract insects. “I immediately suspected what was going on and the fly was quickly picked up.”
The Icelandic Institute of Natural History confirmed that the mosquitoes were of the species Culiseta annulata, pictured at right. (Lauren Abbondondolo; iStock)
Hjaltason sent the sample to the Institute of Natural History, where they were confirmed to be mosquitoes, specifically the Culiseta annulata species, by Icelandic entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson.
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According to the RUV report, Alfreðsson said there is a possibility that mosquitoes are “here to stay” because this species is tolerant to some diseases. cold weather.
The entomologist confirmed it was the first time a mosquito had been found on Icelandic soil, but scientists had predicted it would come eventually.
Iceland is known for its extensive wildlife, from whales to wild horses. (Lauren Abbondondolo)
According to EU tourism data, Iceland’s inbound tourism has seen significant growth; It increased from 813,215 trips in 2021 to more than three million in 2023. Nightly stays also increased from three million to over eight million.
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Iceland’s unique environment includes an active volcano, natural hot springs, thousands of picturesque waterfalls, and glaciers, including Vatnajökull, which covers 8% of the country’s land area.
During the colder months, Iceland is a popular place to see the Northern Lights; Spring and summer months offer opportunities to see rare wild animals such as seagulls.
