Popular travel destination loses mosquito-free status after insects spotted

For the archetypal clip successful reported history, mosquitoes person landed successful Iceland.

The Nordic nation, located conscionable southbound of the Arctic Circle, has been connected the emergence arsenic a fashionable question destination for its expansive landscape, geothermal vigor and unsocial wildlife.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Another perk of Icelandic question is that mosquitoes person ne'er inhabited the European land – until now.

The Icelandic broadcasting web RUV announced that scientists astatine the Icelandic Institute of Natural History person confirmed the archetypal mosquitoes successful Iceland.

Reykjavík, Iceland, is the country's superior and its largest city, adjacent to wherever the archetypal mosquitoes were spotted. (iStock)

Three mosquitoes were spotted connected the occidental Iceland adjacent Reykjavik, the country’s superior and its largest city.

The insects were identified earlier this period by Björn Hjaltason, who reported the find successful a Facebook radical called "Insects successful Iceland."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"At the opening of dusk connected the evening of Oct. 16, I caught show of a unusual alert connected a band," Hjaltason said, referring to a set helium uses to pull insects. "I instantly suspected what was going on, and the alert was rapidly collected."

The Icelandic Institute of Natural History confirmed the mosquitoes were of the taxon Culiseta annulata, pictured astatine right. (Lauren Abbondondolo; iStock)

Hjaltason sent the specimen to the Institute of Natural History, wherever they were confirmed arsenic mosquitoes – specifically the taxon Culiseta annulata – by entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson successful Iceland.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

According to the RUV report, Alfreðsson said there’s a accidental the mosquitoes are "here to stay," arsenic this peculiar taxon is tolerant to acold weather.

The entomologist confirmed that this is the archetypal clip a mosquito has been connected Icelandic soil, though scientists had predicted they would yet arrive.

Iceland is known for its expansive wildlife, from whales to chaotic horses. (Lauren Abbondondolo)

According to EU tourism data, Iceland's inbound tourism saw important maturation – from 813,215 trips successful 2021 to much than 3 cardinal successful 2023. Overnight stays besides roseate from implicit 3 cardinal to implicit 8 million.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

Iceland's unsocial situation includes an progressive volcano, earthy blistery springs, thousands of picturesque waterfalls and glaciers – including Vatnajökull, which takes up 8% of the country's onshore area.

In the colder months, Iceland is simply a fashionable determination to spot the Northern Lights, portion outpouring and summertime supply opportunities to spot uncommon wildlife, specified arsenic puffins.