Overview
- Three mosquitoes — two females and one male — were identified as Culiseta annulata, marking Iceland’s first record of the insect in its natural environment.
- Citizen scientist Björn Hjaltason trapped them on red wine–soaked ropes in Kiðafell, Kjós, and entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson verified the identification at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland.
- Culiseta annulata can endure harsh winters by sheltering in protected places such as basements or barns, making survival in Iceland plausible.
- Scientists plan focused surveillance, especially next spring, to determine overwintering and establishment, with ships or containers considered possible introduction routes.
- Iceland has warmed rapidly in recent years, which may increase suitability for mosquitoes, though experts caution against attributing this specific finding directly to climate change, and this species is not a major disease vector.