Iceland has recorded mosquitoes within its borders for the first time in history

Question

For the first time in recorded history, Iceland has confirmed the presence of mosquitoes within its borders. The discovery was made by insect enthusiast Björn Hjaltason, who captured three specimens on a farm in Kjós, just north of Reykjavík. After turning them over to the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, the insects were identified as Culiseta annulata — a species known to survive in colder European climates.

The institute stated that the mosquitoes likely arrived by freight and may now be capable of surviving Iceland’s warming climate. This development reflects the broader environmental impact of global warming and increased international trade, which have introduced new insect species to Iceland in recent years. Although these mosquitoes are known to bite, the institute confirmed that Culiseta annulata does not transmit diseases in the regions where it’s typically found.

Until now, Iceland was considered mosquito-free, largely due to its cool and stable climate. With this finding, Antarctica remains the only continent without mosquitoes. The discovery highlights how climate change is rapidly altering ecosystems, even in the world’s coldest regions.

Answer 1

This claim is true. Mosquitos used to not be able to thrive in Iceland due to the lack of stagnant water and its low temperatures. With their recent record-hitting heatwave, there have been sitings of a specific type of Mosquito that is able to survive the winter, Culiseta Annulata. (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyz3vv62pgo). The Natural Science Institute confirmed this discovery, and has suspicions of these bugs catching a ride by freight (https://www.natt.is/is/frettir/2025/10/moskitofluga-greind-islandi-i-fyrsta-sinn). This seems to be an effect of climate change, as mentioned by the New York Times, as the Icelandic glacier “Okjokull” has completely melted away from these temperatures, while some plants and animal species are in the beginning stages of extinction and invasive species, such as these mosquitos, are making their way into the Icelandic ecosystems. (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/world/europe/iceland-mosquito-discovery.html).  

Answer 2

After researching further into this claim, I discovered that this is indeed true. Due to global warming, mosquitoes are now able to survive in Iceland, where it was previously too cold to survive. According to BBC, "Insect enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason encountered the mosquitoes over several nights last week while using wine-soaked ropes to observe moths, local media reported. Mr Hjaltason found two female mosquitoes and one male, which were later confirmed to be Culiseta annulata, one of the few species that can successfully survive winter." https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyz3vv62pgo. However, they state that further monitoring and studies will have to be done to confirm that they can still survive there long-term. Overall, yes, mosquitoes are now found in Iceland, making Antarctica the only remaining place in the world where mosquitoes cannot live. 

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/22/nx-s1-5582748/iceland-mosquitoes-first-time

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/21/mosquitoes-found-iceland-first-time-climate-crisis-warms-country

Answer 3

1. Write a brief overall summary of your findings.

This claim is true, according to several reliable news outlets. In October 2025, three mosquitoes were captured near Reykjavik and later confirmed by Iceland's Natural Science Institute as Culiseta annulata, a species that can survive in cooler climates. This marks the first time mosquitoes have been officially recorded in Iceland's history. Scientists think they probably arrived through imported goods and managed to survive because of Iceland's warming temperatures.

2. What primary sources did you find (e.g., transcripts, videos of politician speeches, tweets from public figures, scientific studies)? For each source, write at least one or two sentences explaining what you learned. Include all links.

The Natural Science Institute of Iceland identified the insects and confirmed the finding through media statements. Local enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason, who first caught them on his farm in Kjios, provided the samples for analysis.

3. What secondary sources did you find (e.g., newspapers, magazines)? Only use secondary sources if sufficient primary sources are not available. For each source, write at least one or two sentences explaining what you learned. Include all links.

• The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/21/mosquitoes-found-iceland-first-time-climate-crisis-warms-country: "Mosquitoes found in Iceland for first time as climate crisis warms country" reports the discovery and explains how it reflects broader climate changes.
• LiveScience https://www.livescience.com/animals/mosquitos/are-there-any-countries-with-no-mosquitoes "Are there any countries with no mosquitoes?" - Confirms that Iceland can no longer claim to be mosquito-free
• Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/10/23/iceland-mosquitoes-climate-change/"Iceland spots its first mosquitoes amid concerns over warming climate" Add expert opinions on how warming and global trade might explain their arrival.

4. What potential biases or interests might each of your sources have?

Most of these sources are science or climate-focused, so they highlight the discovery's link to climate change. That angle might make the story sound more dramatic, but the basic facts about the mosquito discovery are well-documented.

5. What evidence supports the claim you are fact-checking?

The confirmed identification by the Natural Science Institute and multiple independent reports show that mosquitoes were indeed found for the first time. This is backed up by entomologists who identified the species and verified that such insects hadn't been recorded in Iceland before.

6. What evidence undermines the claim you are fact-checking?

Some experts point out that this doesn't necessarily mean mosquitoes have established a stable breeding population yet. It might just be a few individuals carried by trade or travel. Still, the discovery itself is real.