Overview
- An entomologist at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland verified three Culiseta annulata mosquitoes after a citizen scientist reported the find.
- Two females and one male were collected on Oct. 16 in Kiðafell, Kjós, about 30 kilometers north of Reykjavík, using red wine–soaked ropes meant to attract moths.
- This marks the first record of mosquitoes occurring in Iceland’s natural environment, with a prior airport interception years ago now lost.
- C. annulata is adapted to cold, with adults able to overwinter in sheltered places and larvae able to use varied breeding sites, including artificial containers.
- Experts are cautious about directly linking the discovery to climate change, though warming could increase the odds of establishment, reflecting wider range expansions seen in Europe.