The tundra is mostly flat, a beneficial factor for mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are most frequently associated with hot, damp conditions, such as those found in a swampy, jungle area or a tropical coastal plain. These areas may well be where the small predatory insects have their biggest impact on humans. However, mosquitoes are actually found in their highest concentrations in the Arctic tundra -- among the most desolate and freezing places on Earth. In summer, literally billions of them can dominate the sky.
Favorable Conditions
The majority of the Arctic is flat, which means during the summer, when the snow and ice melts, the water has nowhere to run to. This, coupled with the fact that the permafrost under the soil prevents the water sinking into the earth, creates thousands of shallow pools of still water. These wetlands become perfect breeding sites for mosquitoes because the summer sunshine dramatically increases the temperature of the water. The organic material found within the warm water also provides food for larvae.
Prey
It is the females of the species that prey on the blood of warm-blooded creatures. Males feed on nectar and water. In the tundra, females target the 48 species of mammal found there, including caribou and wolves, birds and, of course, people. The tundra has become increasingly people-inhabited due to miners and oil rig workers and the development of towns and roads, but in western tundra areas humans are still outnumbered by polar bears. As mosquitoes generally prey on the most prevalent species in their ecosystem humans are largely ignored in favor of these large carnivores.
Survival in Winter
Mosquitoes are one of the few insect species able to survive the freezing temperatures of an Arctic winter. They do so by replacing the water in their bodies with a chemical called glycerol, which acts like an antifreeze and ensures they can survive under the snow until it thaws in summer.
Human Risk
The Arctic tundra covers Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, Finland and Russia. There are hundreds of different species of mosquito found in these areas. However, human fatalities caused by the transmission of diseases through mosquito bites are far fewer than in hotter climates. This is partly because the human population is much smaller in the tundra and; therefore less of a focus for mosquitoes. To prevent bites, it's best to leave as little flesh as possible exposed, limit body deodorant, cover your head at night with a mesh insect screen and wear mosquito repellent.
Tags: Arctic tundra