REYKJAVÍK, Iceland — Iceland has confirmed its first wild mosquitoes, ending the island nation's status as one of the last mosquito-free places on Earth and raising concerns about the impacts of climate change on the Arctic region.
The Natural Science Institute of Iceland confirmed the discovery of three Culiseta annulata mosquitoes — two females and one male — found near Reykjavík, according to institute entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson.
The insects were discovered earlier this month by Björn Hjaltason, an insect enthusiast who spotted them on red wine ribbons used to attract moths at a farm in Kjós, about 20 miles north of the capital.
"At dusk on the evening of October 16th, I caught sight of a strange fly on a red wine ribbon," Hjaltason told Icelandic broadcaster RÚV. "I immediatel