(MENAFN) A tropical insect species native to warmer climates has been detected for the first time in South Korea, officials confirmed Monday, signaling a potential shift in the nation's ecosystem as temperatures climb at an alarming rate.

South Korean media reported Monday that the southern house mosquito—a pest typically confined to tropical and subtropical zones—has been discovered on Jeju Island, the country's southernmost territory.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) disclosed Monday that specimens gathered in August from Jeju Island samples contained the southern house mosquito, confirming its unprecedented presence on Korean soil.

Though a 1956 research study listed Culex quinquefasciatus—the scientific designation for the southern house mosquito—as occurring within South Korea's borders, authorities have now verified the species' existence for the first time.

The KDCA confirmed the insect's distribution across multiple locations throughout Jeju, suggesting the species has successfully colonized the region and established viable breeding grounds.

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

Climate data from the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment published in 2023 showed South Korea's mean temperature has surged by 1.6C between 1912 and 2020—substantially outpacing the worldwide average rise of 1.09C across the identical timeframe.

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