"Insect enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason encountered the mosquitoes over several nights last week while using wine-soaked ropes to observe moths, local media reported. Mr Hjaltason found two female mosquitoes and one male which were later confirmed to be Culiseta annulata, one of few species that can successfully survive winter. Iceland was one of only two mosquito-free havens in the world prior to the discovery, partly due to its cold climate. The only other recorded mosquito-free zone is Antarctica."
"The cold climate is going away and, when the cold climate goes away, then the ice in Iceland becomes stagnant water. This is just science. But this year, the country broke multiple records for its high temperatures. Typically, Iceland rarely experiences highs of more than 20C (68F) in May, and when it does those heatwaves will last for no more than two to three days, its Met Office notes."
Mosquitoes of the species Culiseta annulata were observed and confirmed in Iceland after an enthusiast found two females and one male using wine-soaked ropes to attract moths. Iceland had been one of only two mosquito-free regions due to persistent cold and limited stagnant water for breeding; the other mosquito-free zone is Antarctica. The country experienced multiple record high temperatures and prolonged May heat exceeding typical 20C highs, increasing the likelihood of new breeding habitats. The route by which the mosquitoes arrived remains unclear. Warming trends threaten delicate, cold-adapted ecosystems and can enable new species establishment.
Read at www.esquire.com
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