Record-breaking heatwaves in Iceland have brought about a shocking discovery: mosquitoes. The small, blood-sucking insects were found in the country for the first time last week, with entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson confirming that they are Culiseta annulata, a species known to be common across parts of Europe and North Africa.
The sighting has sent shockwaves through Iceland's wildlife community, as the country was previously considered one of only two mosquito-free havens in the world. The lack of mosquitoes was attributed to the country's cold climate, with stagnant water being a breeding ground for the insects.
However, this year's record-breaking heatwaves have brought an end to that streak, with temperatures soaring above 20C (68F) for extended periods. The highest temperature ever recorded in Iceland in May was 26.6C (79.8F), and the heat lasted for over a decade, making it one of the most extreme heatwaves on record.
According to Alfreðsson, the mosquito species may have been introduced to Iceland through human activity, such as shipping or trade. However, it remains unclear how they were able to survive the country's cold climate.
The discovery has sparked concerns about the potential impact on delicate ecosystems that have adapted to the country's cold climate. A study published by the Global Heat Health Information Network noted that shifts in temperature could have significant impacts on these ecosystems.
As Iceland continues to monitor the situation, entomologist Bjorn Hjaltason remains fascinated by the discovery. "One always suspects Grundartangi - it's only about six kilometers from me, and things often arrive with ships and containers, so it's possible something came in that way," he said.
While some have speculated that mosquitoes may be on their way out of Iceland, others are more concerned about the potential arrival of other invasive species. As the country continues to experience record-breaking temperatures, its wildlife community will be keeping a close eye on any further developments.
The sighting has sent shockwaves through Iceland's wildlife community, as the country was previously considered one of only two mosquito-free havens in the world. The lack of mosquitoes was attributed to the country's cold climate, with stagnant water being a breeding ground for the insects.
However, this year's record-breaking heatwaves have brought an end to that streak, with temperatures soaring above 20C (68F) for extended periods. The highest temperature ever recorded in Iceland in May was 26.6C (79.8F), and the heat lasted for over a decade, making it one of the most extreme heatwaves on record.
According to Alfreðsson, the mosquito species may have been introduced to Iceland through human activity, such as shipping or trade. However, it remains unclear how they were able to survive the country's cold climate.
The discovery has sparked concerns about the potential impact on delicate ecosystems that have adapted to the country's cold climate. A study published by the Global Heat Health Information Network noted that shifts in temperature could have significant impacts on these ecosystems.
As Iceland continues to monitor the situation, entomologist Bjorn Hjaltason remains fascinated by the discovery. "One always suspects Grundartangi - it's only about six kilometers from me, and things often arrive with ships and containers, so it's possible something came in that way," he said.
While some have speculated that mosquitoes may be on their way out of Iceland, others are more concerned about the potential arrival of other invasive species. As the country continues to experience record-breaking temperatures, its wildlife community will be keeping a close eye on any further developments.
just think about it, mosquitoes have been spotted in iceland 
like how did they even get there? and now people are speculating that its all because of shipping containers or trade 
but what if its more than that? what if humans are being played by the gov or some org 
just saying, might be something fishy going on here...
this is wild, i mean who would've thought mosquitos in iceland? like they're from europe or north africa... never seen anything like it. what's next, rabbits or deer going to show up too? 
this just goes to show how crazy the weather is getting, and how we're all losing our cool (literally). so yeah, entomologists are on high alert, and i can imagine why - these little buggers could mess with some pretty delicate ecosystems. hope they figure out what brought them here and how to deal with it, 'cause iceland doesn't need any more surprises! 
. Mosquitoes in Iceland? Like, what's next? Flies in Antarctica? 
I mean, I get it, heatwaves are a thing now and all that, but come on! The whole "mosquito-free haven" thing was a big part of the country's identity, you know? And now they're just... there. It's like the ultimate bug invasion 
. And don't even get me started on the potential impact on delicate ecosystems... *sigh* Just great 
.
like, what's next? mosquitoes in canada? or australia? should we start preparing for the invasion 
?
just learned that mosquitoes have invaded Iceland 
. I'm kinda glad I don't live there anymore since I hate getting bitten #MosquitoProbs #IcelandIsHot. The thought of these tiny blood-suckers taking over is giving me the heebie-jeebies 
. Entomologists are stumped, and scientists are warning about potential impacts on ecosystems #InvasiveSpecies #WildlifeWoes. Who's next? 
and also those other invasive species might just show up 
stay tuned
and those heatwaves are insane 
20c+ is like nothing they're used to, it's no wonder mosquitoes decided to show up 
and poor bjorn is already speculating about other invasive species coming in... like what's next? 
like what?! they thought that place was mosquito-free lolol. anyway, it's actually pretty cool to think about how these tiny insects can travel far & wide through shipping & trade 
. we should def keep an eye on this situation, 'cause who knows what other invasive species might show up next 
I told you guys this would happen one day! Iceland's climate has been warming up for years and we should've seen this coming. I mean, it's not like they're isolated or anything (although that did help keep the mosquitoes out for a while). The science on this is pretty clear: humans are causing the warming, and now the mosquitoes are showing up as a result. It's all about connectivity and trade 
.
. I'm all for the climate change awareness and stuff, but it's just crazy to think about how these little buggers have adapted to this heatwave and are now causing a stir in our ecosystem 
.
. i mean, whats next? are they gonna tell us that polar bears are coming to visit our beaches too 
... just kidding, kind of. Seriously though, who would've thought Iceland's cold climate was a mosquito-free zone? I guess that's what happens when you're used to being the only one with frostbite issues in March 
they're saying it might have been brought by humans from europe or north africa, but how did they even survive the cold climate? 
it's definitely gonna be interesting to see how this plays out. i mean some people are already worried about other invasive species showing up, so fingers crossed that iceland can keep its wildlife safe 
.