新华社赫尔辛基10月22日电雷克雅未克消息：冰岛寒冷严酷的冬季使当地人长期以来免受蚊子侵扰。然 而，该国研究人员近日首次确认在野外发现了蚊子，气候变暖或是原因之一。 据"冰岛观察"网站等当地媒体日前报道，该国一名昆虫爱好者16日在首都雷克雅未克以北约32公里的山 区发现了两雌一雄共三只蚊子。随后他将蚊子标本送至冰岛自然科学研究所昆虫学家马西亚斯·阿尔弗 雷德松处进行鉴定，最终确认其为环跗脉毛蚊。 阿尔弗雷德松说，多年前曾在冰岛凯夫拉维克机场的飞机上发现过一只不同品种的蚊子，但此次是在冰 岛自然环境中首次记录到蚊类踪迹。 不过，关于这些蚊子如何抵达冰岛尚不明确，有推测认为它们可能是通过船舶或集装箱传入。阿尔弗雷 德松表示，来年春季需开展进一步监测，以确认该物种能否度过寒冬，真正在冰岛扎根。 美国非营利性统计组织"世界人口评论"的调查显示，冰岛曾是全球仅有的两个因气候严寒而无法孕育蚊 群的地区之一。不过，冰岛确实拥有能维持昆虫生命的植被与季节性气温，气候变暖可能为蚊群向该地 迁徙创造了条件。因此，目前南极洲成为了唯一仅存的没有蚊子的地区。 （文章来源：新华网） 环跗脉毛蚊原生于东半球，分布于从北非至西伯利亚北部的 ...

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of mosquitoes in Iceland challenges the long-held belief that it was the only country without mosquitoes, highlighting the impact of climate change on species distribution [2][3]. Group 1: Discovery and Significance - The Icelandic Institute of Natural History confirmed the first presence of mosquitoes in the country, specifically identifying them as "Culex pipiens" [2][3]. - This finding is significant as it marks the first time mosquitoes have been confirmed to be active outdoors in Iceland, despite occasional sightings on flights to the country [3]. Group 2: Potential Origins and Environmental Implications - The mosquitoes are believed to have arrived from a nearby industrial area approximately 6 kilometers away, where goods are transported internationally [3]. - Scientists had previously predicted that environmental changes could allow mosquitoes to establish stable populations in Iceland, indicating a broader trend of species moving to higher latitudes due to climate change [3]. Group 3: The Mystery of Iceland's Previous Mosquito-Free Status - Prior to this discovery, Iceland was one of the few regions with suitable living conditions for humans that did not have a mosquito population, leading to the "mosquito mystery" [3]. - Reports indicated that Iceland's climate is not extremely cold and has ample water bodies for mosquito breeding, adding complexity to the understanding of its previous lack of mosquitoes [3].

Core Insights - The discovery of mosquitoes in Iceland marks the end of its status as a "mosquito-free" country, highlighting the impact of climate change on species distribution [1][2] Group 1: Discovery and Significance - Three suspected mosquitoes were found in Iceland for the first time, confirmed to be "Culex pipiens" by entomologists [1] - This finding is significant as it indicates that mosquitoes are now active outdoors in Iceland, a phenomenon not previously observed [1] - The potential source of these mosquitoes is speculated to be an industrial area approximately 6 kilometers away, where goods are transported internationally [1] Group 2: Climate Change Implications - Scientists had predicted that environmental changes could allow mosquitoes to establish stable populations in Iceland [1] - Iceland is warming at a rate four times faster than the northern hemisphere average, leading to accelerated glacier melting and the appearance of southern fish species in its waters [1] - The presence of mosquitoes in Iceland reflects a broader trend of expanding mosquito distribution globally due to climate change [2] Group 3: Historical Context - Prior to this discovery, Iceland was one of the few regions without mosquitoes, alongside Antarctica, despite having suitable conditions for their breeding [2] - The "mystery" of Iceland's mosquito-free status has been a topic of interest, given the presence of breeding habitats in surrounding areas [2]