Mosquitoes found in Iceland for the first time in history. Now only one place on earth remains mosquito-free

Mosquitoes have been discovered in Iceland for the first time in recorded history. Three specimens of the cold-tolerant species Culiseta annulata were found in October 2025 in Kjos, a rural valley near Hvalfjordur. This marks the first confirmed instance of mosquitoes living outdoors on Icelandic soil — a finding scientists believe is linked to climate change and the northward expansion of cold-adapted insect species.

The discovery was first reported by insect enthusiast Björn Hjaltason in the Facebook group Skordýr á Íslandi (“Insects in Iceland”). Hjaltason collected three specimens, which were later examined by the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, where entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson confirmed their identity as Culiseta annulata.

Mosquitoes have previously reached Iceland as stowaways on planes, but none had ever been found living in the wild — until now. Scientists have long warned that rising temperatures could allow mosquitoes and other insects to expand their habitats further north. This prediction gained credibility after biting midges successfully established themselves in Iceland in 2015.


Experts say the discovery underscores how climate change is reshaping ecosystems, enabling species once limited to temperate regions to survive in colder climates.

Only One Mosquito-Free Place Left on Earth

With Iceland now hosting mosquitoes, Antarctica stands as the only remaining mosquito-free continent. Its extreme cold, lack of liquid water, and absence of standing pools make it impossible for mosquitoes to breed or survive. Unlike Iceland’s increasingly variable climate, Antarctica’s consistently frigid temperatures keep it an inhospitable environment for these insects.

Mosquitoes thrive in warm, humid regions with stagnant water — ideal conditions found in tropical rainforests and monsoon-prone areas. In contrast, environments like Iceland and Antarctica have traditionally been too cold or unstable for their life cycles to complete. But Iceland’s recent discovery signals that even the coldest habitats are not immune to the effects of a warming planet.