Long marketed as a mosquito-free country to tourists, Iceland has stepped into the “modern age”. The Icelandic Institute of Natural History has confirmed on 20 October that three mosquitos were found in the past couple days. And, experts argue, if one finds three there are more.
The insects were found in Kjós, north of Reykjavik and just west of the popular Thingvellir National Park. The species found is the Culiseta annulata, which can withstand freezing well. Elsewhere in Scandinavia, this type of mosquito tries to stay warm in winter inside farm houses or cellars—to pop back to life in spring.
How the mosquitos ended up on Iceland is not known. The Icelandic Institute of Natural History believes they will spread relatively quickly throughout the island, where temperatures this summer went up to a previously unusual 20 degrees and more in some places. | © 2025 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter.com. Featured photo: Mosquito of the culiseta annulata type (Photo: Aleksandr-Balodis (CC))