Overview
- Citizen scientist Björn Hjaltason trapped two females and one male in Kiðafell, Kjós, and sent the insects for identification.
- The Natural Science Institute of Iceland verified the find as the country’s first record in its natural environment after only a past airport interception.
- Researchers say the pathway of arrival is unknown, with ships or cargo containers considered possible sources.
- Surveillance will ramp up in spring to determine whether a breeding population establishes, and experts note this species is not a major vector of human diseases.
- Coverage situates the discovery in a rapidly warming Iceland that could support more insects, while scientists caution against linking this single detection directly to climate change.