Mosquitoes spotted in Iceland for the first time after record heat

Iceland has confirmed its first-ever mosquitoes in the wild, a historic shift that scientists say follows a year of record-breaking warmth. Three specimens of the cold-tolerant species Culiseta annulata were collected in October.

16 in Kiðafell, Kjós, about 30 km north of Reykjavík, by citizen naturalist Björn Hjaltason and later identified by entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. The insects were caught on red-wine “moth ropes,” a lure typically used for trapping moths.

The find ends Iceland’s long-held status shared only with Antarctica as a place free of mosquitoes. Researchers note that C. annulata can overwinter by sheltering in places like basements and barns, raising the possibility that the species could persist if conditions remain favourable.

While C. annulata is best known as a biting nuisance rather than a major human disease vector, its appearance underscores how warming is enabling insect ranges to expand into formerly inhospitable climates.

This year’s exceptional heat provides the backdrop. Iceland logged its most significant May heatwave on record, with temperatures more than 10°C above average in parts of the country and a national May record set at Egilsstaðir Airport. July then tied for the warmest on record, and meteorologists say 2025 ranks among Iceland’s warmest years.

Scientists also point out that Iceland is warming several times faster than much of the northern hemisphere, a trend that is transforming local ecosystems and opening the door to new species.

Officials and scientists will now watch to see whether mosquitoes establish breeding populations. For now, the discovery is limited to three specimens, but experts say continued monitoring is needed, particularly around stagnant water, livestock areas, and human structures that could offer winter refuge.

i