The only country without mosquitoes is no longer mosquito-free — here’s what happened

• The insects were caught by insect enthusiast Björn Hjaltason using red-wine-soaked ropes designed to attract moths, while scientists suspect international transport may have helped mosquitoes reach Iceland.

• The discovery came as scientists continued monitoring whether mosquitoes can establish themselves in Iceland, while a separate malaria outbreak at Frankfurt Airport highlighted how infected mosquitoes can travel aboard aircraft.

For years, Iceland was the only sovereign country in the world without mosquitoes until October 2025, when mosquitoes were discovered on Icelandic soil for the first time.

The discovery was unusual not only because of where it happened but also because of how the insects were found and how they may have reached the island in the first place.

On October 16, 2025, insect enthusiast Björn Hjaltason noticed a…