Mosquitoes reach Iceland for the first time as the Arctic heats up
Posted by Portalrules123@reddit | collapse | View on Reddit | 77 comments
Posted by Portalrules123@reddit | collapse | View on Reddit | 77 comments
Spiritual_Dot_3128@reddit
On the brighter side the equatorial zones are becoming too hot for mosquitoes, so at least people there have that going for them.
Empty-Equipment9273@reddit
The first climate refugees have arrived
Fragraeve@reddit
Close but this started back in the early 2000s when other insects started getting more north and the Inuit and Alaska natives had no words for them because those insects had never been seen in those regions, ever, in their language's lifespan and theyve been there for at least 10k years.
HomoExtinctisus@reddit
Also becoming too hot for humans so not sure it's that much of a bright side.
verstohlen@reddit
Some humans are having to resort to using an air conditioner now which can be kind of expensive.
thunderr_snowss@reddit
Humans in equatorial areas have been using AC since the 1970s at least
verstohlen@reddit
Prior to that some had to resort to swamp coolers. They're cheaper, but man, they can get rusty over time, and sometimes they stink, like a swamp. Some might say, well duh. But you know, ya do what you can with what you got. Just ask Burt Gummer. Bet he's got a swamp cooler. Personally I dig air conditioners myself over swamps, even if they do cost more and use more electricity.
whereismysideoffun@reddit
This must be an issue of mosquitos being transported to there. Mosquitos have no problem in arctic regions. In fact, they thrive in arctic and boreal regions.
TheStoneMask@reddit
The problem with Iceland is rapid freeze-thaw cycles in winters that fuck with dormant insects, causing them to wake up in the middle of a +10°C warm spell in December, only to die when it freezes again a couple of days later. Those cycles happen multiple days every winter, sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, and are a big obstacle to colonising insects.
There is a chance those mosquitoes didn't survive the winter because of that, we won't know until this summer.
whereismysideoffun@reddit
That's still no issue for mosquitos. They play a numbers game.
TheStoneMask@reddit
Sure, but do they have the numbers yet after a ~dozen adults in one container?
refusemouth@reddit
I'm not sure why you are being downvoted. Lots of mosquitoes have been my experience above the Arctic circle. We used to play a game where we would slap our thighs and then see who killed the most mosquitoes in one swat. Clouds of mosquitoes are everywhere and out almost 24 hours a day in summertime. I was really surprised to learn that mosquitoes weren't a thing in Iceland until recently. Mosquito larva definitely travel in ship bilge water. That's how malaria got to North America and ravaged Native populations out west before the first Euro-American actually started arriving in the territory.
whereismysideoffun@reddit
The sub has gone so far downhill. Years ago it would have let to discussion, but the sub isn't very open to learning anymore, is just confirmation bias through a firehose.
Portalrules123@reddit (OP)
SS: Related to climate and ecological collapse as it seems that Iceland has lost its status as one of the only places on Earth free of mosquitos, at least in part due to the rapid warming at northern latitudes from Arctic amplification. While I’m sure mosquitos have reached Iceland in the past via airplanes and shipping, the fact that none were recorded till last year suggests they didn’t survive long. Far from merely being a mild annoyance, this could have severe consequences to an ecosystem that isn’t used to the bugs’ presence. For instance, reindeer would be forced to spend more energy avoiding swarms and less time grazing, which could lower reproductive success. If more novel insects start arriving besides just mosquitoes, they could also have severe effects on vegetation that typically doesn’t have to worry about too many insects eating it. All in all, expect ecosystems around Iceland and the world to continue being irrecoverably altered as climate chaos continues and invasive species spread.
TheStoneMask@reddit
There are multiple species of insects that reach Iceland every year thanks to shipping. The vast majority of them do not survive the winters. Until we find them again this summer and the next, there's no reason to assume these mosquitoes are any different.
HateHumansLoveDogs@reddit
Riddle me this , how do they survive in alaska ? I mean over winter its bitter yet every spring they swarm and bleed your dry
TheStoneMask@reddit
They're already in Alaska in big numbers. It doesn't matter if a few die in winter as there are always more to replace them.
A ~dozen or so in a new place, completely isolated from any supplementing populations, don't have that luxury.
flriverlivin@reddit
Not due to global warming. Due to introduction via shipping. This article is horrid to suggest global warming caused the introduction.
millanstar@reddit
Do you really think its the first time in centuries that a mosquito was able to get into the artic by shipping?
Lmaaao
Is not about that, is about that it reach the artic AND that it is able to survive there due tona warmer temperature...
TheStoneMask@reddit
Iceland is not in the Arctic.
flriverlivin@reddit
How long have mosquitoes been in the arctic?
Undeity@reddit
It was inevitable that they would be introduced eventually. They likely have been countless times already, even. The key difference here is that the country is now officially hospitable enough for them to survive, due to global warming.
flriverlivin@reddit
You realize how long mosquitoes have been in the arctic yes? Granted, warming will make the population larger, but has zero to do with introduction.
Undeity@reddit
The Arctic has much more stable climate. In the relevant regions, a deep freeze gradually gives way to a full thaw throughout the year. Even with rising temperatures, the transition is overall stable enough that the mosquito eggs can survive dormant through the winter.
In contrast, Iceland alternates much more frequently between freezing and thawing. The mosquito eggs can't handle the rapid shifts without it fucking up their dormancy period, which kills them off. Now that it's much more consistently above freezing, though...
This information was just a quick google search away, man. You're too confident in your assumptions.
flriverlivin@reddit
Skipping right over the introduction part that the article claims to be due to warming. Iceland has extremely consistent rapid freeze and thaw (due to gulf stream) vs rest of Arctic that stays in freeze much longer. Only the small island of Grimsey Iceland is actually in the arctic circle.
Undeity@reddit
I thin you missed my point. It's very much due to warming.
flriverlivin@reddit
Mosquitos arrived due to shipping not warmer climates. Mosquitos have been surviving in far colder climates than Iceland. I think you missed my point.
Undeity@reddit
Making my point literally involved acknowledging the core of your point as a a given. Try thinking real hard for a moment, and consider how that might imply you're the one missing something.
CoveDweller@reddit
Not the introduction, but the survival, is caused by global warming. Snakes in Newfoundland, same thing. Always a few hitching rides, but not reproducing. Until recently.
flriverlivin@reddit
Mosquitoes have existed in the arctic for 1000's of years. Warming will make the population larger, but has zero to do with introduction.
Disastrous_North_102@reddit
This seems odd, there is a lot of reindeer in Finland for example, with enormous amounts of mosquitos and they are managing. Are there really even have reindeer in Iceland??
TheStoneMask@reddit
Yes, they were imported and intentionally released in 1771.
SquashDue502@reddit
Reindeer are also not native to Iceland. In fact, the only non-marine mammal native to Iceland is a fox. Everything else was introduced by the Vikings at some point. So the impact to reindeer reproduction is not necessarily a signal of environmental collapse of that ecosystem, as both are not native.
If the arctic fox or native bird species become impacted then sure, but otherwise it’s just a problem worsening another problem we already caused before climate change.
Acceptable-Fudge-816@reddit
Shit, nowhere to hide now.
hotdog31@reddit
Weird, the last couple days here (Midwest US) ive noticed swarms of baby newly hatched mosquitos in swarms. I do not recall in previous years ever noticing this early on in the season nor saying “what the fuck with the mosquitos” in early April.
HateHumansLoveDogs@reddit
Because a few weeks of winter then boom summer hits! I mean we were in the fucking 80s in march man! The climate is def changing and its changing weather and seasonal patterns
HateHumansLoveDogs@reddit
Well i guess no one will do anything till they infest Antarctica, by then we will all be on our way out anyway
SovietNato@reddit
Mosquitos have been far north of iceland for all of recorded history. This is a non-story
ItyBityGreenieWeenie@reddit
Not good news.
Untura64@reddit
Playing Plague Inc in real life.
Pretend-Bend-7975@reddit
Only Greenland remains mosquito-free now.
HomoColossusHumbled@reddit
There is always low Earth orbit.
Untura64@reddit
Actually, Greenland has always had mosquitoes. The anomaly was Iceland.
Spiritual_Dot_3128@reddit
Most underrated comment
madrid987@reddit
Damn it, even you, Iceland?
unknownpoltroon@reddit
You're just an anti mosquito bigot.
possiblecurb@reddit
We got a pro bird life cycle nerd, right here
possiblecurb@reddit
This is a hyphen for future history books, hell yeah. I hope the next life is filled with catastrophic achievements. This is like a kid at the end of the game flipping buttons out of boredom.
Barnacle_B0b@reddit
Next life?
possiblecurb@reddit
He said quietly to himself, wondering, hoping...
Mahat@reddit
hoping it's not on this planet.
isekai me truck kun
possiblecurb@reddit
May Krampus send you truck-kun.
imminentjogger5@reddit
at least they can suffer in solidarity with the rest of us
Mahat@reddit
this is what i came to say, they had it coming
jaybsuave@reddit
now i don’t feel bad for not doing shit all week
Empty-Equipment9273@reddit
All I look forward to this weekend is grilling some veggie burgers and watching some movies
I literally just can’t put energy into doing anything else with knowing what’s coming
nothankeww@reddit
same. Sounds like a nice weekend plan you got going for yourself.
Empty-Equipment9273@reddit
🥂
Automatic-Funny-8842@reddit
Whatchu gonna watch? I am planning for 90s rom coms back to back.
Empty-Equipment9273@reddit
National security and blue streak :)
flriverlivin@reddit
Classic.... the article bases off the key, barely mentioned... "Shipping, tourism, military activity, and infrastructure are expanding across the region, creating new pathways for species introductions. "
Yep.. they didn't arrive via warm wind. They arrived the same way most invasives get somewhere these days, shipping. Mosquitoes have been in Arctic regions for thousands of years. Human induced global warming has nothing to do with their arrival. Now larger populations of mosquitoes can be blamed, but mosquitoes have been on the planet for millions of years, ice age, no ice age... they keep on.
possiblecurb@reddit
Has nothing to do with arriving on warm wind. It's the warm wind keeping them alive in places that they shan't be.
flriverlivin@reddit
Mosquitoes have been surviving in the arctic since the last ice age.
HomoExtinctisus@reddit
Probably before then but that's not the point. Why are you spamming otherwise?
flriverlivin@reddit
I am pointing out that an article claiming global warming caused mosquitos in Iceland (which all but a small island is south of the arctic circle) gives climate deniers 'fake science' to point at. Headlines and articles need to be accurate, not make unrelated claims. Climate change is responsible for many problems, this is not one of them.
possiblecurb@reddit
Deny it or not, skeeters on your peter that far north are bad. I think we are past a point of arguing with deniers. The fact they run everything, like global warming not CAUSING mosquitoes in Iceland, but allowing such to happen is the right we need to have.
atascon@reddit
Sure but the worrying fact is probably that they are still there and able to establish themselves. If 3 were spotted, you can bet there are more It’s not just the mere fact of them turning up there.
flriverlivin@reddit
Are you suggesting mosquitoes have not been surviving in the arctic for the last several 1000 years? If so, you will be very disappointed. Now does it make the populations larger? yes. Did it cause the introduction as the article tries to suggest, absolutely not.
atascon@reddit
I don’t really get what your point is, did you read the article? It’s a pretty simple concept - climate change makes it exponentially more likely that certain plants, animals and insects end up in places where they’re not meant to be and disturb local environments.
Not all mosquitoes are the same and the particular species in the article is disruptive to Iceland’s flora and fauna.
Shipping and trade have been a factor of Iceland’s economy for a long time now so the first discovery of mosquitoes there is noteworthy. This is not an isolated example of things being where they shouldn’t be.
flriverlivin@reddit
Clearly you didn't read the article, much less the article it was based on. My point is simple. Claiming climate change caused an invasive to appear somewhere when it was shipping (the cause of 99% of invasive introductions) causes doubt in climate science. This is how deniers find in roads. "Until recently, Iceland was the only Arctic nation without mosquitoes. This was a rare exception in a region where mosquitoes emerge in vast numbers each summer, tormenting wildlife and people alike. That distinction is now gone."
Shock... mosquitoes have been in the arctic.🙃
Also stated in the reference article is the severe lack of arthropod monitoring in Iceland and the arctic as a whole, thus they could have been there for quite some time.
atascon@reddit
Iceland is mostly outside of the arctic so I don’t know why you keep repeating that mosquitoes have been in the arctic
flriverlivin@reddit
The headline "Mosquitos reach Iceland for the first time as the Arctic heats up" . Gee why would I mention the Arctic? Right there in the headline.
HardNut420@reddit
The world of the mosquito mosquito mad man theory
Empty-Equipment9273@reddit
The first climate refugees have arrived
Kitchen-Paint-3946@reddit
Another strange anomaly that climate deniers will try to explain
woodenh_rse@reddit
We all know they were farming mosquitoes on Iceland in the Middle Ages! Explain that to me. /s
StatementBot@reddit
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Portalrules123:
SS: Related to climate and ecological collapse as it seems that Iceland has lost its status as one of the only places on Earth free of mosquitos, at least in part due to the rapid warming at northern latitudes from Arctic amplification. While I’m sure mosquitos have reached Iceland in the past via airplanes and shipping, the fact that none were recorded till last year suggests they didn’t survive long. Far from merely being a mild annoyance, this could have severe consequences to an ecosystem that isn’t used to the bugs’ presence. For instance, reindeer would be forced to spend more energy avoiding swarms and less time grazing, which could lower reproductive success. If more novel insects start arriving besides just mosquitoes, they could also have severe effects on vegetation that typically doesn’t have to worry about too many insects eating it. All in all, expect ecosystems around Iceland and the world to continue being irrecoverably altered as climate chaos continues and invasive species spread.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/collapse/comments/1so80g6/mosquitoes_reach_iceland_for_the_first_time_as/ogr56l9/