Mosquitoes in Iceland confirmed for first time, monitoring needed to determine establishment: Entomologist

NEW DELHI, Oct 23: A citizen of Iceland sighted mosquitoes at his home last week and sent photographs for confirmation — a scientist has confirmed this as the country’s first instance of the insects, though further monitoring is needed to determine if the species has established itself. The presence of the mosquitoes could suggest a recent introduction, possibly transported via ships or shipping containers, said Matthias Alfredsson, an entomologist at the National Science Institute of Iceland, in an email to PTI. While the species, identified to be a ‘Culiseta annualata’, may be habituated to cold climates, warmer conditions driven by global warming could make it easier for the mosquitoes to survive and establish themselves here, Alfredsson said. Culiseta annualata, or Cs. annulat