Climate change: Future disease risk from mosquitos in Scotland

Until now, very little has been known about how widespread mosquitoes are in Scotland.

So experts at the Centre for Virus Research have been keeping a close eye on their movements to monitor the impact of climate change on disease spread.

They hung traps at 24 locations across the country and lured the insects by the smell of carbon dioxide, which mimics human breath.

They found 16 varieties out of about 4,000 in the world.

The highest concentrations were at their sites around Loch Kinnordy in Angus and Broubster Leans in Caithness.

Prof Ferguson said: “With warming temperatures we’re going to see larger numbers of mosquitoes, potentially different species including some that might be migrating from other areas where they can transmit diseases,” she said.

“They may be active for longer periods which means they maybe do pose a risk.”