A pest with big impact

Mosquitoes in Iceland are not a small sign of climate change

- VAISHALI DAR

ICELAND STOOD AS one of the last places on Earth untouched by mosquitoes mainly due to its rugged volcanic landscape, sparse vegetation, and cold weather where no insect could take refuge. But that changed this year. Anaturalist near Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland, madea surprising discovery of three mosquitoes buzzing in the air.

The insects were collected and sent to the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, where entomologists confirmed that mosquitoes had been found living in the wild.

Culiseta annulata, a species widespread across Europe and Asia, unlike its tropical cousins in the Aedes or Anopheles genera, does not transmit major human diseases such as malaria, dengue, or Zika. But what's pertinent here is that if mosquitoes can survive in a place, with an average temperature variation of 1 degree C in winter to 10-13 degrees C in summer, says much about the planet's changing climate.

Scientists believe the insect arrived in imported goods or cargo shipments, and still managed to survive. However, it has been proven that mosquitoes couldn't complete their life cycle in Iceland's environment because of the country's short, cool summers and near-constant wind. Which means that even if mosquitoes were introduced, they could not find the warm, stagnant water needed for breeding. Eggs and larvae would freeze or die before maturing.