How to Have a Pond without Having Mosquitoes
Ponds can be a great addition to any site. However, unless proper care is taken, they can become breeding grounds of mosquitoes. It is possible to have a pool without the need for additional mosquito, but to understand how to control mosquitoes, you should understand a little about how mosquitoes breed.
Male mosquitoes like to lay eggs (about 100 to 300 at a time) in a dark place in the still water. Then the egg floats on the water for about 48 hours before hatching into larvae. larva will survive in water for 10 days to eat small plants and animals. It is then turned into a cocoon that float on the surface of the water for two days before the adult mosquitoes emerge.
Mosquitoes do not need much water to lay eggs. However, the more water the mosquitoes can be supported and the more mosquitoes will be interesting, that’s why it is important to prevent your pond from becoming mosquito breeding. This can be done either by making it undesirable to females or to prevent the larvae develop into pupas. There are several ways to do this.
Fish and Tadpoles
Koi may be beautiful, but most are too big to eat mosquito larvae. However, because Koi is known for their mellow nature, you may consider adding some smaller fish. Common goldfish, killifish, and guppies are three types of fish are known to eat mosquito larvae and will be harmonious with the other fish. If you have a natural pond is not complete with bass, Bluegill, or catfish, you might want to consider adding some small fish fool. Bass, Bluegill, catfish and all the natural predators of mosquito larvae and will not need extra help.
If you have a pool or water sources that do not have any fish, consider adding some Gambusia affinis, also known as mosquito fish. Mosquito fish about an inch long and looks like a guppy. A large female Gambusia can consume more than two hundred larvae of mosquitoes in an hour. They are very aggressive fish and began to attack the larvae when they are just a few hours old. Unfortunately, they also will attack the larvae of dragonflies (which are predators of mosquito larvae) and will be aggressive towards other fish and tadpoles.
Mosquito fish are very strong and able to adapt to different temperature and salinity. They live naturally in the United States to the south. However, a few mosquito fish varieties have been bred to survive cold temperatures, even down to-30oF. They are livebearers and can produce 3-4 broods per summer youth about 25-100 respectively. You do not have to worry about over-transmitted to them because they are highly aggressive towards one another.
If you have a large birdbath constantly filled with water, consider adding about ten fish. Fancy a bigger pool to support fish anywhere 35-100. For the wastewater ponds, plus about 1000 fish per hectare. Small fish, guppies, and a small carp can also be added to birdbaths and ornamental ponds, but they are not hardy as the mosquito fish. You do not have to worry about feeding them well, because they defend themselves on what they found in the water.
If you are interested to have fish, consider the tadpole. Tadpoles do not just eat mosquito larvae, but they grow into a frog or toad, that will eat mosquitoes. One toad can consume about a hundred mosquitoes yesterday.
Pond Design
Each area of your pool or shallow water that would still be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. These include surface water plant, water in the upper pot is submerged, and the shallow water near the pool. Remove vegetation that hang by the pool that may provide shelter for mosquito larvae.
If you include the mosquito-eating fish pond, make sure to periodically raise and lower the level of your pool. It will be dry or deepen the shallow water in which fish you can not go to normal. Also, thin out to each plant to ensure that your fish can swim around and through vegetation. You may want to remove vegetation and water around the edge of your garden pond.
If possible, disturbing the water surface by using a waterfall or fountain. These elements can be combined with setting your filter, but is not required. Movement of water will affect the ability of females to lay eggs.
BTI, methoprene, and Oil There are three chemicals that can be added to the water to help reduce the mosquito: BTI, methroprene, and oil. Only the first commercially available for the pool owner. However, the other two can be used by mosquito control agencies so it is important to understand what they are and what they do.
BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a type of natural bacteria that will kill mosquito larvae and other fly larvae but is harmless to fish, pets, wildlife, or humans. It is usually sold in a donut shape with the name “mosquito dunks” or “Mosquito Bits.”
Methroprene the insect growth regulator used to control the mosquito larva. It is found in many flea and tick solutions. Although initial reports indicated that the chemical is safe for humans, is not currently available for use in the pool. There are also indications that these chemicals can damage the frogs and other wildlife.
Oil is the older drugs to control mosquitoes. It works by placing a film on the water to prevent the larvae from breathing. Unfortunately, the oil can also damage aquatic plants and other water insects that are useful. Currently, approved oil can only be purchased by mosquito control agencies. Contact any one of them to this drug as a last resort. Do not use ordinary cooking or vegetable oil. Not only because of ineffective, it is very messy.
Whatever method you choose, it is important to check periodically that it is effective. This can be done with a spoon of water into a cup or a bowl of white. Each mosquito larvae must be seen against a white surface. If you see a stretched-twisted little thing, you should consider additional methods of mosquito control. If you find a lot of larvae in your pond, it is possible that you eat your fish too much. Try reducing the amount of food for a few days and see if the larval population is not declining.
Follow this guide and you will be able to enjoy your pool throughout the summer without worrying about mosquitoes.