Recently, Iceland got mosquitoes, making Iceland one of the last places on Earth to get one of the most irritating insects. Experts declare this to be another sign of climate change affecting the world’s ecosystems, even in areas where species are believed to be rare. These mosquitoes are most likely to be found in the north-eastern area of the country. Cold-hardy mosquitoes, which can survive and live in extreme temperatures, are lawfully considered and documented by the Iceland Institute of Natural History.
The institute finds that the insects were mosquitoes, the first for Iceland
In the past, the brutal Icelandic winters have protected the country from having any mosquitos. The country also has a very special phenomenon in the winter called a freeze-thaw cycle, which disrupts the mosquito life cycle, specifically the development of larvae in any standing water.
However, in the last few years, mosquito winters lasted longer, and thus have created a more stable and warmer seasonal pattern.
For many years, Gísli Már Gíslason, who used to be a biologist and a professor at the University of Iceland, has been saying that mosquitoes might get to Iceland someday, he has pointed out:
“The countries next door have more than 40 kinds of biting mosquitoes. And, with global warming, mosquitoes that used to be only in the tropics will move to the North.”
Gísli noted mosquitoes in Greenland as an example. They have learned to feed on large mammals like musk ox and even reindeer. He pointed out that cold-hardy mosquitoes have longer proboscis that pierce through thick cloth and bite warm blood.
Greenlandic mosquitoes might not thrive in Iceland
Gísli might be right, but other Scandinavian and British Isles mosquitoes would be able to thrive.
The impact of the pandemic on Iceland has been significant.
Elínborg S. Pálsdóttir, the biologist capturing mosquitoes, stated:
“This is the world we live in, and it’s changing in unpredictable ways. Iceland has always been a pest-safe haven. This is no longer a guarantee.”
Potential public health consequences are not the only issues Iceland faces with mosquitoes. Mosquitoes have the potential to disrupt Iceland’s ecosystems, particularly by impacting certain bird species and possibly other wildlife.
Icelandic authorities are discussing the implementation of monitoring and preventative actions
Icelandic authorities are telling people to keep an eye out for any mosquito activity, to use protective measures like screens on windows, and to eliminate stagnant water near homes. Entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson says:
“This is the first time mosquitoes have been found in Iceland.”
He added that the species Culiseta annulata can survive through winters in basements and barns.
This suggests a need for public awareness, particularly for undomesticated settings that may permit the survival of mosquitoes, but there are still no formal health measures or protective advisories issued.
The mosquitoes are a reminder to Iceland of the changes in the world’s climate that Icelandic authorities have attempted to adapt to.
Iceland has already been dealing with other climate changes
Iceland has been dealing with other climate changes, like vegetation changes, melting glaciers, and changes in river levels.
Having mosquitoes is an example of the climate change that is thawing glaciers and now unbalancing ecosystems.
Gísli Már Gíslason observed:
“It’s not a question of survival. There are species that could easily live here. They just haven’t been introduced yet.”
We must now prepare for a future in which even our most notable geographical features are unprotected. Mosquitoes arriving in Iceland represent, more than other species, the climate crisis. They signal that the climate crisis is not about to come, it is happening right now, affecting even he most remote places on the planet.