"Mosquitoes have been found in Iceland for the first time as global heating makes the country more hospitable for insects. The country was until this month one of the only places in the world that did not have a mosquito population. The other is Antarctica. Scientists have predicted for some time that mosquitoes could establish themselves in Iceland as there are plentiful breeding habitats such as marshes and ponds. Many species will be unable to survive the harsh climate, however."
"Matthias Alfresson, an entomologist at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, confirmed the findings there. He identified the insects himself after they were sent to him by a citizen scientist. He said: Three specimens of Culiseta annulata were found in Kiafell, Kjos, two females and one male. They were all collected from wine ropes during wine roping aimed at attracting moths. The species is cold-resistant and can survive Icelandic conditions by sheltering through winter in basements and barns."
Mosquitoes have been detected in Iceland for the first time, ending its near-unique status alongside Antarctica as mosquito-free. The cold-tolerant species Culiseta annulata was identified from three specimens collected during moth-attraction trapping. The insects can survive Icelandic winters by sheltering in basements and barns and breed in plentiful habitats such as marshes and ponds. Iceland is warming at roughly four times the rate of the rest of the northern hemisphere, with collapsing glaciers and warmer-water fish appearing. Other regions are also seeing invasive mosquitoes capable of spreading tropical diseases as the planet warms.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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