IN countries like Malaysia, mosquitoes are a common, irritating menace that those living in hot and humid climates simply have to live with.
However, it was thought that these pesky bloodsuckers could survive in polar-like climates such as in Iceland.
But is it true that mosquitoes have now found a home in the Land of Fire and Ice?
Verdict:
TRUE
Up until 2025, mosquitoes were non-existent in only two places: Iceland and Antarctica (which is technically a continent).
Iceland was previously thought to have been mosquito-free, thanks to its colder all-year round temperatures. But following a 10-day heatwave in May 2025, which saw temperatures hit up to 26.6°C, it appears mosquitoes have finally found their way to Iceland.
According to CNN, citizen scientist Bjorn Hjaltason, based in Kidafell, Kjos – about 32km north of capital Reykjavík – discovered an unfamiliar species on the wine-soaked ropes he used to attract and capture insects for studying.
He contacted entomologist Matthias Alfredsson of the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, who identified the insects caught by Hjaltason as two female and one male individuals of the Culiseta annulata species.
Alfredsson told RUV English, the English-language version of the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, that while a single mosquito has previously been found on an airplane at the country's Keflavik International Airport, Hjaltason's find is significant, as it is "the first record of mosquitoes occurring in the natural environment in Iceland."
In a statement released by the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, the Culiseta annulata, or banded mosquito, is a large species of mosquito that is widespread across Europe, including the Nordic countries and Britain. It's known for being able to survive cold winters by finding shelter in sheds and basements.
While it's not clear how exactly the mosquitoes found their way to Iceland, the institution believes it was likely via freight, as a growing number of new insect species have been found in the country in recent years due to warmer temperatures and global transportation routes.
REFERENCES:
1) Mosquitoes arrive in Iceland: https://www.ruv.is/english/2025-10-20-mosquitoes-arrive-in-iceland-456614
2) 'If three mosquitoes are found, there are likely more': https://www.ruv.is/english/2025-10-21-if-three-mosquitoes-are-found-there-are-likely-more-456682
3) Iceland just found its first mosquitoes:
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/21/climate/iceland-mosquito-discovery
4) Mosquitoes identified in Iceland for the first time: https://www.natt.is/is/frettir/2025/10/moskitofluga-greind-islandi-i-fyrsta-sinn
