Mosquitoes first appeared in Iceland, as global warming makes the country more hospitable for insects.
Until now, Iceland along with Antarctica were among the parts of the world where mosquitoes had not made their appearance.
Scientists have long predicted that mosquitoes could settle in Iceland, as there are plenty of marshes and lakes. However, many species will not be able to survive in the harsh climate.
But Iceland is warming, at a rate four times greater than the rest of the northern hemisphere. Glaciers have collapsed and fish from warmer, southern climates, such as mackerel, have been spotted in the country’s waters.
As the planet warms, more mosquito species have been identified around the world. In the United Kingdom, eggs of the Egyptian mosquito (Aedes aegypti) were detected this year and in Kent the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) was found. These are insect species that can transmit tropical diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya virus and Zika virus.
MatthÃas Alfreðsson, an entomologist at the Icelandic Institute of Natural Sciences, confirmed the findings there. He identified the insects himself after a scientist who lives there sent them to him.
“Three specimens of Culiseta annulata were found in Kiðafell, Kjós, two females and one male,” he said. The species is cold hardy and can survive the Icelandic conditions by wintering in basements and barns.
Source: Skai
I have worked as a journalist for over 10 years, and my work has been featured on many different news websites. I am also an author, and my work has been published in several books. I specialize in opinion writing, and I often write about current events and controversial topics. I am a very well-rounded writer, and I have a lot of experience in different areas of journalism. I am a very hard worker, and I am always willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done.
