World Mosquito Day: Know the only country that is mosquito free

According to scientists, mosquitoes love a wet humid environment but they can also survive in the cold. However, the chemical composition of the water and the soil of Iceland isn't suitable for mosquito breeding. This has been a mystery scientists have been trying to solve for decades, especially as countries bordering Norway, Denmark, Scotland, and Greenland have mosquitoes.

Some experts also believe that the oceanic climate of Iceland keeps mosquitoes at bay. When mosquitoes lay eggs in cold weather, the larvae emerge with a thaw but as Iceland has three major freezes, it is difficult for mosquitoes to survive. However, scientists are yet to reach a consensus on the exact cause helping Iceland remain inhospitable to mosquitoes.

Environmentalists fear that increasing global warming and consequent climate change may help mosquitoes make their way into the country in the future. At present, there's only one place in Iceland where you can find a mosquito (actually, its remains) -- Icelandic Institute of Natural History. The specimen is preserved in a jar of alcohol.