LAST CERTAINTY HAS FALLEN: MOSQUITOES FOUND IN ICELAND FOR THE FIRST TIME
- Roman Pech
- 22. 10. 2025
- Minut čtení: 3
Reykjavík / Kjós, October 21, 2025 — A country that long took pride in having no mosquitoes has just lost that distinction. A small event of great significance has definitively changed Iceland’s status as a mosquito-free country.
Icelandic amateur entomologist Björn Hjaltason discovered several mosquito specimens in his garden in the Kiðafell valley in Kjós. Experts later identified them as belonging to the species Culiseta annulata — a hardy insect common in Northern Europe.
“When I saw them for the first time, I couldn’t believe my eyes. We simply never had mosquitoes in Iceland,” Hjaltason told Icelandic broadcaster RÚV.
Entomologists confirm the first occurrence
The identification was carried out by Matthías Alfreðsson from the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. According to him, this is not an isolated stray individual, but a sign that the species may be able to survive, at least temporarily, in Icelandic conditions.
“Culiseta annulata is a fairly hardy species. It tolerates cold and can overwinter in sheltered places — basements, barns, or caves. That gives it a chance to survive in Iceland,” Alfreðsson told the newspaper Morgunblaðið.
Iceland has thus lost one of its unique distinctions — together with Antarctica, it was among the last places on Earth without mosquitoes.
Former Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson (2013–2016) claims he was bitten by a mosquito. As a former politician, he jokingly claims the “first bite” record.
PRIMARY SUSPECT: CLIMATE CHANGE
Experts link the finding primarily to ongoing global warming. According to data from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the country has been warming four times faster than the average of the Northern Hemisphere in recent decades. Milder winters, more stagnant water, and a longer growing season are creating conditions increasingly suitable for mosquitoes.
“That mosquitoes have appeared here is further evidence that climatic boundaries are shifting. What was once impossible is now reality,” said climatologist Einar Pálsson from the University of Iceland.
A SYMBOLIC MOMENT
Although scientists do not yet know whether mosquitoes will manage to reproduce and establish a stable population, the discovery is considered symbolically significant. Iceland long represented the “last stronghold” without mosquitoes — a place showing that harsh nature can sometimes be an advantage.
“We can call this the end of a myth,” wrote the Icelandic news site Vísir.
Social media also reacted humorously — for example, former Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson jokingly remarked that he might have been “the first Icelander ever bitten by a mosquito.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The health risk is considered negligible. Culiseta annulata does not transmit tropical diseases, and most specimens are unlikely to survive the winter. However, scientists plan to monitor whether mosquitoes reappear in the spring.
“This is a small event with big implications. If mosquitoes are able to persist in Iceland, it will be another clear sign that our climate is changing faster than we thought,” Alfreðsson concluded.
About the Author
Iceland has fascinated me for many years. Over the course of numerous journeys across the island, I have driven tens of thousands of kilometers, experienced storms that changed travel plans within minutes, and witnessed days when choosing the right route meant discovering places that most visitors never see. I documented many of these experiences in my documentary film Island in the North.
Through this website, I share practical travel advice, up-to-date information, and firsthand experiences from the field to help others explore Iceland more safely and gain a deeper understanding of its unique landscapes and ever-changing nature.
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