Copyright The New York Times
Iceland lost the distinction this month of being one of the last places in the world without a confirmed sighting of wild mosquitoes. And their presence was discovered only because of a rope in a garden doused in sugary red wine. A bug enthusiast named Bjorn Hjaltason has spent years attracting insects to his property using a method known as “wine roping,” in which fabric dipped in sugared wine is used as a lure. Usually, the wine draws moths, according to Matthias S. Alfredsson, an entomologist at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland who occasionally collaborates with Mr. Hjaltason on projects. But last Thursday, Mr. Hjaltason noticed an unusual bug, said Mr. Alfredsson. Could it be a mosquito? He sent a photo to Mr. Alfredsson, who went to look in person. (Mr. Hjaltason did not respond to requests for comment.) Soon, Mr. Alfredsson confirmed Mr. Hjaltason’s hunch: Three mosquitoes — two females and a male — were eventually discovered at the property. “This is the first time” that mosquitoes have been found in the wild of Iceland, Mr. Alfredsson wrote in an email. The Natural Science Institute announced the discovery in a statement on Tuesday. The question for Icelandic scientists is whether they will be short-lived tourists or the beginning of a new, native population. But either way, mosquito experts say the discovery is a sign of how rapid climate change and globalization are changing Iceland. “We should not be surprised that we see mosquitoes popping up in very strange localities,” said Bart Knols, a Dutch mosquito expert and a founder of MalariaWorld, which gathers and shares malaria research. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
