Iceland

Iceland Loses Mosquito-Free Status Following Discovery in Kiðafell

OCT 21 2025·Updated OCT 23 2025

Story

Above: A mosquito in Montlouis-sur-Loire, central France, on Oct. 21, 2022. Image credit: Guillame Souvant/Getty Images

The Facts

Three mosquitoes of the species Culiseta annulata were discovered in Iceland for the first time in October 2024, marking the end of the country's status as one of only two mosquito-free places on Earth alongside Antarctica.
guardian
New York Post
Citizen scientist Björn Hjaltason first spotted the insects on Oct. 16 in his garden in Kiðafell, Kjós, while using red wine ribbon traps designed to attract moths. He subsequently captured three specimens over three consecutive nights.
Iceland Monitor
South China Morning Post
Entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland confirmed the identification of two female and one male Culiseta annulata mosquitoes, a cold-resistant species native to Europe, Central Asia and North Africa.
CNN
Gizmodo
According to the Global Heat Health Information Network, Iceland has been warming at four times the rate of the rest of the northern hemisphere, with record-breaking temperatures recorded in May that were over 18 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, creating more hospitable conditions for insects.
WVTM 13
guardian
Scientists believe the cold-resistant Culiseta annulata species could survive Icelandic winters by sheltering in basements and barns, though further monitoring will determine if they become permanently established in the country.
Firstpost
Iceland Review
The discovery reflects a global trend of mosquito range expansion due to climate change, with invasive species like Asian tiger mosquitoes — capable of transmitting diseases such as dengue and Zika virus — recently found in the U.K.
Yale E360
ABC News

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The Spin

Climate-concerned narrative

Climate change has turned Iceland into a mosquito breeding ground, marking a dangerous milestone in global warming's relentless march. Rising temperatures are making the Arctic nation hospitable to disease-carrying insects that threaten to spread tropical diseases like dengue and Zika to previously safe regions. This discovery proves climate change is accelerating faster than predicted, with Iceland warming four times faster than the rest of the northern hemisphere.

Firstpost

ABC News

Matthew Todd on X

Climate-skeptic narrative

The mosquito discovery in Iceland isn't necessarily linked to climate change and experts urge caution about jumping to conclusions. These cold-resistant insects may have arrived via ships or containers and could have survived in Iceland even without warming temperatures. Scientists admit there's still much unknown about mosquito behavior and range shifts, making direct climate connections premature.

South China Morning Post

CNN