A historic mosquito observation was made in Iceland – A capricious winter can discourage newcomers

What is the only country in the world without mosquitoes? The sure answer to the question has been Iceland.

Miraculously, the northern island nation has escaped the bloodsuckers, even though mosquitoes live even in Greenland.

But soon it may be different. In mid-October, three mosquitoes flew into an insect trap on a farm north of Reykjavík. Icelandic Institute of Natural Sciences announced of the discovery as soon as possible.

of Iceland The big, hateful iguanas had really offended the uninhabited airspace. The intruders were identified Slide canceled – as representatives of the species. This large mosquito also buzzes in Finland and is called the ring cherry mosquito in our country. It is the largest of the mosquitoes, with a wingspan of up to 1.5 centimeters.

Rengas-Kirsi sounds like a female tire dealer, but “cherry” is an old word for frost. The country is stuck, they say. Cherry midges hibernate as adults and are usually the first of the spring mosquitoes to move. Ring cherry mosquito can be recognized by clear stripes or rings.

The mosquitoes have probably arrived on the island aboard a plane. There has been a company before: professor Gíslí Már Gíslason tells He told The New York Times that he met the very first mosquito in Iceland already in the 1980s in the cabin of an airplane that arrived from Greenland.

Resilient mosquitoes can also survive for hours on the landing gear of an airplane, in the freezing cold of the upper air.

However, the itica have not survived in Iceland. The climate is too unstable for them. Mosquitoes haven’t been able to overwinter when the weather on the island fluctuates between freezing and cold. Mosquitoes wake up when the water melts, but then another period of frost can hit.

Now the two females and one male found ended up in the entomologist’s refrigerator, but there may be more in the wild.

It remains to be seen whether they will survive the winter and whether they will manage to establish a more permanent population on the island. As the climate warms, conditions may become more favorable for mosquitoes.

In Latin, mosquito is culex. Icelanders certainly hope that when spring comes, mosquitoes will no longer be found in culexima.