"Back in 2016 an article in the New York Times referred to Iceland as a mosquito-free island paradise. While nearby countries host mosquito populations during warmer times of the year, one of the going theories was that Iceland's propensity for harsh swings between thawing and freezing helped keep the bloodsuckers from getting a foothold. But that same Times piece warned that this skeeter-free status could be in peril."
"Now mosquitoes have made themselves at home in Iceland for the first time. According to local news sources, an insect enthusiast got in touch with the Natural Science Institute of Iceland after finding three suspected mozzies out in the wild. An expert confirmed that the bugs were indeed mosquitoes, marking the first time these insects had been found taking up residency on the island."
Iceland has recorded resident mosquitoes for the first time after three suspected specimens were found in the wild and confirmed by experts at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland. Iceland had previously been effectively mosquito-free, likely because harsh freeze-thaw cycles prevented establishment. Warmer temperatures are enabling mosquito colonization. The Arctic is warming far faster than lower latitudes; a 2022 Nature study reported the Arctic warmed almost four times faster than the global average between 1979 and 2021. A recent PNAS study indicates Earth is reflecting less sunlight, a darker planet that could accelerate global warming.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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