Research
MosquitoNI is a £1.5 million project that brings together researchers and other stakeholders to study mosquitoes in Northern Ireland.
Regional Knowledge Gaps
Mosquitoes are generally overlooked in Northern Ireland and in many other temperate areas worldwide. The cooler climate on the island of Ireland has been traditionally thought to limit mosquito abundance and stifle disease risk. However, Ireland is already home to a rich diversity of mosquitoes and associated habitats, with around 20 species having been reported so far.
These native insects play an important role in our ecosystems, including as prey for other animals such as birds, bats, and frogs, and even acting as plant pollinators. However, some species are increasingly being noticed and reported as a biting nuisance and we do not know what viral microbiota or potential pathogens they may carry.
Changing Health Risks
While there is no evidence for mosquito-borne disease transmission occurring in Ireland, the threat is changing, and mosquitoes that live here are already known to transmit pathogens to humans, livestock and wildlife elsewhere in the world. Nearby, in England, Usutu virus was detected for the first time in wild birds in 2020, with an ongoing northward range expansion. This mosquito-borne disease has caused a dramatic decline in breeding populations of blackbirds and can cause disease in humans. In 2023, West Nile virus was detected for the first time in mosquitoes in England.
Elsewhere in Europe, chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses are increasingly widespread threats to public and animal health, accompanying the expansion of the invasive tiger mosquito that has been detected and rapidly eradicated in England since 2016. There have also been instances of these pathogens in Northern Ireland from travelers returning from abroad.
Mosquitoes under Environmental Change
Climate warming, urbanisation, and biological invasions mean that mosquito-borne disease risk is changing. Warmer conditions can speed up the development of mosquitoes and their pathogens, meaning they are active for longer seasonally, whereas increased urban water storage in artificial containers spurred on by droughts can increase habitat availability for some species. As non-native species arrive through trade and transport pathways, the potential for new viruses and diseases to emerge also rises.
