A mosquito from Asia that spreads tropical diseases, including dengue fever, may soon hit the shores of Britain because of climate change, experts have said.
The mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has already been reported in France and Belgium, the Daily Mail reported.
The mosquito that can carry dengue and chikungunya viruses, both of which cause high fever, may invade parts of Britain between 2030 and 2050.
Such infections usually occur in tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America.
Scientists led by Samantha Martin, from the University of Liverpool, used climate models to predict how changing conditions might affect the mosquito's distribution.
Climate suitability for the mosquito has increased over southern Britain, northern France, parts of Germany, Italy, Sicily and the Balkan countries, the experts wrote in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
The mosquito was introduced to Europe from Asia via goods shipments like used tyres and bamboo.
Other places described as high risk zones include Cyprus, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Macedonia, Portugal and Turkey.