Iceland has lost its distinction as one of only two places on Earth without mosquitoes, after three specimens were discovered in the Nordic island nation this month. Until now, only Antarctica remained completely mosquito-free.

The historic find occurred when citizen scientist Björn Hjaltason spotted unusual insects in his moth traps near Reykjavik in mid-October. “At dusk, I caught sight of a strange fly on a red wine ribbon,” Hjaltason explained after posting his discovery to a local Facebook group. He quickly collected the specimen—a female mosquito—along with two others, and sent them to Iceland’s Natural Science Institute for identification.

Entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson confirmed the insects as Culiseta annulata, a cold-resistant species capable of surviving Iceland’s harsh winters by sheltering in basements and barns. While scientists had long predicted mosquitoes would eventually establish themselves in Iceland due to abundant breeding habitats like marshes and ponds, rising temperatures have finally made conditions suitable for their arrival.

This development reflects broader climate-driven changes across the Arctic, which is warming four times faster than the global average. Iceland has experienced record heat this year, with collapsing glaciers and southern fish species like mackerel appearing in local waters. The mosquito discovery underscores how rapidly warming temperatures are reshaping ecosystems worldwide, allowing insects and other species to expand into previously uninhabitable regions. While these particular mosquitoes don’t carry tropical diseases, their presence marks a significant ecological milestone in Iceland’s climate story.