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Iceland is one of the only inhabited countries on Earth with zero native mosquito populations, despite having thousands of lakes and ponds.
Mosquito eggs require a continuous, unbroken freeze during winter to hibernate, followed by a steady warm spring thaw to mature into adults.
Iceland's oceanic climate creates erratic sub-polar weather: warm Atlantic ocean currents trigger sudden thaws throughout winter, prematurely tricking pupae into hatching.
When temperatures plummet back below freezing days later, the young larvae freeze to death before reaching adulthood, destroying the reproductive cycle.
© Global Geographic & Science Press