Scientists seek rare victims of Irish mosquito bites after West Nile virus detected for first time in Britain

Irish mosquitoes are typically found in wetlands, floodplains, coastal saltmarshes

Drogheda, Wicklow and Derry are all mosquito hotspots. Photo: Getty

Ireland has as many as 21 species of mosquito present nationwide, but scientists say it’s rare for them to bite humans here.

A new scientific review has shown that while most Irish mosquitoes feed on birds and animals, there are ­specific places where they feed on ­humans. Drogheda has been ­identified as one such hotspot, as well as parts of Wicklow and Derry.