Iceland Records First Confirmed Mosquito Sighting as Climate Change Alters Arctic Ecosystems
Iceland has lost its status as one of the world’s last mosquito-free countries after scientists confirmed the presence of the insect near the capital, Reykjavík.
The discovery was made in October 2025 when an insect enthusiast captured three mosquitoes using a wine-soaked ribbon trap. The insects were later identified as Culiseta annulata, a species capable of surviving freezing winters by sheltering in enclosed spaces such as basements and barns.
Researchers say the finding may be linked to rising temperatures in the Arctic, where climate change is creating conditions that allow species previously unable to survive in Iceland to establish themselves.
Scientists note that the Arctic is warming at nearly four times the global average rate, leading to significant environmental changes across the region.
The discovery leaves Antarctica as the only continent without mosquitoes and has renewed concerns among researchers about the far-reaching effects of climate change on ecosystems once considered naturally protected by extreme cold.
The findings were reported by the Natural Science Institute of Iceland and highlighted by NPR and CBS News.
Iceland Records First Confirmed Mosquito Sighting as Climate Change Alters Arctic Ecosystems