How Mosquitoes Thrive in the Frozen Tundra

Undoubtedly, the most unwelcome visitor of summer is the mosquito. Many of us have experienced being startled awake by the buzzing of these pesky insects at least once. Once bitten, the relentless itchiness can make it nearly impossible to find rest again. Moreover, mosquitoes pose a significant health risk, serving as vectors for viruses like malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever as they feed on human blood and transmit diseases.

It’s astounding to learn that the world’s largest mosquito breeding ground is in the tundra. Let’s delve deeper into why so many mosquitoes are born in this seemingly inhospitable environment.

“Tundra” translates to “treeless hill” and describes vast plains in high-latitude regions such as the Arctic coastal permafrost areas and Siberia in Russia. Similar grasslands in the southern hemisphere are referred to as Antarctic tundra. These landscapes have a mysterious natural beauty, featuring white snow that blankets the ground in winter and vibrant blue moss that emerges in spring and summer.

With approximately 250 days of snow and ice each year, excluding the brief summer season, the tundra experiences harsh conditions where plant life, including trees, struggles to thrive due to low temperatures. Additionally, the high latitude reduces sunlight exposure, particularly during the winter months, leading to polar night, where the sun doesn’t rise and remains at night.

Despite its frigid climate, summer eventually arrives in the tundra. While temperatures may not soar to scorching heights nearing 86 degrees Fahrenheit, the average temperature rises above freezing during this season, typically 2-3 months. The midnight sun persists throughout summer, with sunlight illuminating the landscape even at midnight. As a result, the frozen ground begins to thaw, forming puddles that create favorable conditions for organisms to flourish.

However, along with the growth of other organisms, mosquitoes also thrive during this time. Although many mosquitoes perish during the cold season, those in the tundra, adapted to polar regions, survive. June and July emerge as peak breeding months for mosquitoes in the tundra.

Mosquitoes’ remarkable adaptation to subzero temperatures is the driving force behind their ability to survive in the tundra. Mosquitoes endure the winter by freezing in the form of eggs or larvae beneath the tundra’s surface, only to emerge and begin breeding once summer arrives and they thaw.

The resulting puddles formed by melted ice serve as a haven for their endless reproduction during the brief three-month summer. These mosquitoes are found throughout various tundra regions, spanning Greenland, Iceland, northern Canada, Siberia, northern Norway, and northern Finland.

With no natural predators to keep their numbers in check, the tundra becomes a mosquito-dominated ecosystem. Witnesses often liken the swarms of mosquitoes to dense smoke, illustrating the overwhelming presence of these insects in the region.

Mosquitoes in the tundra live by feeding on the blood of large herds of reindeer, posing a threat, particularly to weakened individuals who may perish if excessively drained. These mosquitoes have grown strong and large enough to penetrate the thick skin of reindeer, a feat they achieve with remarkable efficiency. They are even capable of piercing through human jeans. This phenomenon is similar to the resilience observed in mountain mosquitoes, which are notably more robust than regular city mosquitoes.

Typically, only female mosquitoes seek blood meals to supplement the nutrients required for egg-laying. However, tundra mosquitoes have evolved to include males in blood-feeding activities. While male mosquitoes traditionally sustain themselves by feeding on plant sap, the absence of vegetation in the tundra has compelled them to adapt, upgrading their diet to include the blood of animals.

The mosquito population fluctuates annually in response to weather conditions, with tundra mosquitoes expected to grow even more aggressive over time. This trend is attributed to global warming, which has transformed the tundra from a cold environment to a hot and humid climate. A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases in 2019 highlighted the correlation between rising global temperatures and the heightened risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

Recent trends indicate a consistent rise in the Earth’s surface temperature, with records broken for ten consecutive months. This widespread occurrence of high temperatures globally suggests the potential for further increases in mosquito populations.

Scholars have hypothesized the potential consequences of mosquitoes disappearing from the Earth, with experts offering varying perspectives. Bruce Harrison from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Resources argued, “If Arctic mosquitoes disappear, the food for birds will also disappear, leading to a 50% decrease in the number of migratory birds nesting in the tundra region.”

On the other hand, other scholars argue that the impact of mosquito absence on bird populations may be overstated. They point out that very little traces of mosquito consumption are observed when dissecting birds in the tundra region. Reindeer are known to move against the wind to avoid swarms of mosquitoes. If mosquitoes disappear, these changes in reindeer migration routes could have far-reaching effects on the soil and vegetation along their paths.