The only country without mosquitoes… but for how long?
Imagine living without mosquitoes: no bites, no welts, no nights ruined by buzzing. That paradise exists, and it is in Iceland, the only country on the planet free of these insects. But the unsettling question is: will it remain that way forever? Science warns that global warming could change the rules of the game and eventually allow mosquitoes to find a way to settle on this unique island.
### Why Iceland has no mosquitoes
While its Nordic neighbors like Norway or Scotland coexist with them, Iceland remains inexplicably mosquito-free. The secret lies in the climate: mosquitoes need liquid water for eggs and larvae to develop, something impossible in a land where freezes and thaws are constant. Even the geothermal waters, always liquid, are chemically unsuitable for their reproduction.
### The exception that proves the rule
Mosquitoes have arrived on occasion – even hidden in airplanes – but they have never managed to establish themselves. That is why Iceland and, to a lesser extent, the Faroe Islands remain as oases free of mosquito bites in a world invaded by these insects.
### The invisible enemy of the future: climate change
The problem is that nature changes. With milder winters and longer springs, water could remain liquid for longer, offering mosquitoes a conducive environment. It is already happening in places like Hawaii, which was mosquito-free until the 19th century and now fights against them.
Could they reach Iceland?
It is unlikely that tropical species like the Aedes aegypti, vector of dengue and Zika, will establish themselves in Iceland. But scientists warn that mosquitoes more resistant to the cold could do so, breaking the balance that has so far protected the island. The mosquito-free paradise could have an expiration date.
### A privilege at risk
Iceland has been until now a corner of the world where one could live without repellents, mosquito nets, or bites. But it. What today seems like a unique privilege could become a memory if the climate continues to change. The lesson is clear: even the most improbable paradises are fragile when the entire planet warms up.
