ISTANBUL

A tropical mosquito species, commonly known as the southern house mosquito, was recently found on South Korea's southernmost island of Jeju, marking the first time this species has ever been found in the country, the Korea Herald reported on Monday.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on Monday that mosquito samples collected in August on Jeju Island included the southern house mosquito, a species typically found in tropical or subtropical regions.

While Culex quinquefasciatus, the scientific name for the southern house mosquito, was noted as a species found in South Korea in a 1956 study, this is the first time its presence has been confirmed.

The KDCA reported that the species was found in several areas across Jeju, indicating that it has likely established a sustainable habitat.

"Exactly how (the mosquito) came here is unclear, but it appears that Korea has now become a habitable environment for the southern house mosquito," said a KDCA official.

A 2023 report on climate change from the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment revealed that South Korea's average temperature has increased by 1.6C from 1912 to 2020, a rate faster than the global average increase of 1.09C during the same period.