Iceland has found its first mosquitoes

[jtbell]

Is there anyplace where we can still escape them? Greenland? Antarctica?

https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/21/climate/iceland-mosquito-discovery

 

[martinbn]

How did they get there?

 

[Laroxe]

How did they get there?

I think thats the major question, climate change is already being blamed, but the climate and flora of Iceland is particularly hostile to mosquitoes, despite warming of a few degrees. like many insects they are of course "frequent fliers". The species identified does appear to be quite hardy, but it doesn't represent a significant risk to human health. However not to worry, you can still be eaten alive by the growing biting midge population, apparently introduced around 10 years ago.

 

[BillTre]

Yesterday I read about a species of mosquito that evolved to live in the London underground (subway).
It is derived from a much more common European mosquito species. It may have evolved to live in caves before finding the underground.

 

[Lyro]

It's remarkable how adaptable mosquitoes can be when conditions shift, even slightly. Iceland has always seemed like one of the last safe zones.