What is the most annoying insect? To me, it’s mosquitoes. They are not only irritating but tough to get rid of as well. And if there is a pond or water garden in your possession, the problem may get worse.
Keeping the pond water moving, adding mosquito-eating fish, keeping your pond algae and debris-free, and trimming the surrounding are some of the natural and chemical-free methods you can adopt to tackle the mosquito issue.
As mosquitoes dwell in damp places, the first and foremost thing you need to worry about is your pond becoming the source of this annoying insect. Therefore, if you want to know more on how to get rid of mosquitoes in pond, stay tuned and scroll for more.
Preventive ways to get rid of mosquitoes in pond
There is a saying that prevention is better than cure. And that’s exactly my plan. Preventing mosquitoes can be done in two ways – killing the existing larvae and preventing larvae growth.
As mosquitoes are fascinated by water figures and lay eggs in water, ponds are the primary target. There are many ways to prevent mosquitoes from making your pond their permanent residence.
Guess what? Here I’ll be giving some super-effective tricks and tips to make mosquitoes run for their lives!
Keep your pond water moving
Adult mosquitoes lay eggs in still stagnant waters because their eggs can’t survive in continuously moving water.
I suggest installing a water pump, fountain, or waterfall in your pond to keep the water running and in motion. It is one of the most effective ways of preventing mosquitoes from using your pond as a breeding spot.
Moving water also improves the oxygenation of the pond, which is beneficial for the plants and fish.
Remove organic wastes
If there are plants around the pond, leaves will shed and eventually turn into organic debris. They will stay on the edge of the pond, making it the best breeding ground for mosquitoes. Plus, adult mosquitoes reside in shallow water and places with heavy and moist vegetation.
To restrain it from happening, trim the plants and scoop out the fallen leaves regularly. This will not only keep away mosquitoes but also will keep the plants healthy as well.
Control the algae growth
Mosquitoes lay their eggs where there is enough food source for the growth of hatchlings. In that case, ponds are a perfect place for them as ponds frequently carry a dense layer of algae and other plants types.
If this food source is cut down to the minimum, it is possible to keep mosquitoes away from the pond. You can manually control the growth of these vegetations or use chemical solutions to keep your pond clean.
Release mosquito-eating animals
Another effective way you might want to adopt is filling your pond with mosquito-consumers. There are some fish and aquatic animals that consume mosquitoes. In fact, they enjoy eating them.
You may want to consider adding them to your pond to control the mosquito population.
Tadpoles, catfish, bass, minnow, and bluegill are some of the natural predators of mosquitoes that you can add to your pond as a solution to this problem.
Bats also LOVE eating mosquitoes. They are renowned for insect-hunting at night. A bat can easily catch 600 mosquitoes per hour! If you can attract bats in your pond area, the mosquito population is bound to reduce.
Use eco-friendly and non-toxic insecticide and traps
Another way of controlling the mosquito population in your pond is applying insecticide and installing mosquito traps. As your pond is home to other living things, it is better not to use chemical-based toxic insecticides near the water figure.
You need something which is less reactive and non-toxic but effective in its field.
For that, you can use mosquito dunks like BTI or non-toxic insecticides to induce mosquitoes. These techniques may be temporary but work effectively in getting rid of mosquitoes.
Altering the water level
When the water level is the same for a long time, the chances of mosquito growth will increase. It can trigger algae growth and slimy edges as well, which can become the cause of the mosquito population.
For your pond is artificial and expectedly comes with a valve, you can easily control the water inflow to your desired level. As a pond keeper, it is essential to adjust the water level from time to time.
To do that, deactivate the valve for a while and drop the water level a few inches than the previous level to expose the submerged edges. Let the sun shine over the wet areas for a bit, and then reactivate the valve. Make sure that the plants and fish don’t fall victim to this alteration.
Introduce larvae-eating fish
There are mosquito-eating animals, and there are fish that consider mosquitoes as a food source. But some fishes are mostly known for their appetite for mosquitoes. The most famous one is the mosquito-fish.
They are named after their food habit. Therefore, Mosquito-fish can eat 100-500 mosquito larvae per day. And, they do not eat any other creature other than that.
You can also release other mosquito-eating fish like Koi, Tilapia, Goldfish, Minnow, or Shubunkins in your pond. All you need to do is introduce them to the pond. The fish will do the rest.
DIY remedy for the mosquito problem
If you want an effective mosquito repellent but also want to avoid harsh chemicals, then there are some fantastic ways you can adopt only by using household things.
- Apple Cider Vinegar- Besides being a magical solution for a healthy life, this liquid is an outstanding natural mosquito larvae exterminator. The best thing about this home remedy is it is 100% natural and non-toxic to other things living in ponds.
Add vinegar to the water and make a concentration of 15% vinegar and 85% water; wait for about 18 hours and see the result yourself.
If you have fish in your pond, think twice before applying Apple Cider Vinegar as it may harm them.
- Soap- Add a little bit of dish soap or shampoo to still water, and it’ll take only a day to kill mosquito babies! A millimeter of soap per gallon is enough to do the trick.
- Oil- Female mosquitoes lay eggs on the water surface. A thin layer of cooking oil on the water surface works fast in killing mosquito larvae. Also, a light coat on the surface makes it hard for the larvae to breathe.
This method requires only 1 Tsp of oil per gallon of water. However, this is not for a pond with fish, as the oil will create complications for them.
- Cinnamon Oil: Cinnamon Oil is more than just a source of a sweet smell. It also works as an environment-friendly natural pesticide. The reason I included it here is that it is a remarkable mosquito exterminator!
In many tests, it is proven that Cinnamon oil has the ability to kill mosquito larvae. It also works as a wonderful mosquito repellent against adult mosquitoes.
Keep an eye on the pond
As a pond owner, you can choose any of these methods to eradicate mosquitoes from your pond but keeping the pond in top shape is yours to do. You must check whether the method you choose is working correctly or not.
Also, you need to check everything else of the pond- trimming the plants, cleaning the water and surroundings, etc.
No more Mosquitoes!
Mosquitoes are far more than whining and irritating insects that come into your house at dusk. They are extremely annoying and host various viruses.
With the tips on how to get rid of mosquitoes in pond, I’m sure your pond and greens around it will only spread a soothing vibe, not any diseases or annoyances.
