For the first time in recorded history, mosquitoes have been discovered in Iceland, marking the end of the Nordic island’s status as one of only two places on Earth without these buzzing insects. Antarctica now stands alone as the planet’s last mosquito-free continent.

Three specimens of Culiseta annulata—a cold-resistant species—were found in October by citizen scientist Björn Hjaltason using wine-baited moth traps. “At dusk on October 16, I caught sight of a strange fly on a red wine ribbon,” Hjaltason explained. “I immediately suspected what was going on.” The discovery was confirmed by entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson at Iceland’s Natural Science Institute.

This milestone reflects a broader pattern of climate-driven species migration. The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average, and Iceland has experienced record temperatures this year, with collapsing glaciers and southern fish species like mackerel appearing in its waters for the first time. Scientists had long predicted mosquitoes would eventually colonize Iceland’s marshes and ponds as conditions became more favorable.

The global spread of mosquitoes raises health concerns beyond mere annoyance. Invasive species like the Egyptian and Asian tiger mosquitoes—capable of transmitting dengue, Zika, and chikungunya—have recently appeared in the UK. While the Icelandic species poses minimal disease risk, this discovery serves as another stark reminder of how rapidly our warming planet is reshaping ecosystems worldwide.