Biting Settlers Seen in Reykjavík

The biting midges need calm winds to thrive.

The biting midges need calm winds to thrive. Ljósmynd/Erling Ólafsson

Vala Hafstað

Morgunblaðið

Despite less than optimal weather conditions in Southwest Iceland this summer, relatively new settlers, biting midges, claim an ever-larger area of land. The latest reports indicate that the unpopular flies has begun annoying residents in several parts of Reykjavík.

The biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) are a familiy of small flies that also are known as no-see-ums or sand flies. They were first detected in Iceland three years ago and have since spread through the country’s south and west. The species is expected to spread throughout the country in coming decades.

So far, its population has been the largest in areas of South Iceland, such as Bláskógabyggð and Hrunamannahreppur districts, according to Erling Ólafsson, entomologist at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History.

Erlingur told mbl.is that calm winds are all the biting midges need to thrive. “All you need is calm winds, which is often the case by summer cabins, surrounded by trees,” he remarked.

Biting midges bite people indoors, sneaking under clothes and biting the scalp as well. Oftentimes, people don’t notice when they’re bitten, but wake up covered in bites. People are advised to treat the bites with rubbing alcohol and a cold pack, in case of itching.

Weather

Partly cloudy

Today

2 °C

Clear sky

Tomorrow

3 °C

Clear sky

Saturday

2 °C