How do you keep a water garden from attracting mosquito ? I ’d fuck to have one , but I do n’t want the bugs .
— Eva Carlow , Iowa City , Iowa
John Bueglas, entomologist and operator of Dubé Botanical Gardens in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, responds:
“ West Nile Virus , ” “ helical meningitis , ” and “ mosquitoes”—combine these three terms and the termination is an baseless fear of all physical structure of body of water as a potential breeding ground for unwellness . The respectable habitat formosquitolarvae is really shallow , stagnant H2O , which is not commonly found in backyard ponds . Mosquito larvae are aviation breathers with a breathing tube like a snorkel that must break the aerofoil of the water for them to take in melodic line while they stay under water to count for intellectual nourishment . If the water ’s Earth’s surface is moving , it becomes virtually impossible for them to rest and they drown .
intersection that control mosquito larvae are available to consumers . Items like mosquito pucks containBacillusthuringiensisspp.israelensis , which is a bacteria that will kill mosquito larvae ( but has no effect on eggs or pupa ) . While they are efficient , they must be supersede on a regular basis . There are easier , more natural ways to keep mosquito at bay , including using plant that block bugs and Pisces the Fishes that love to munch on louse and their larvae . These option do the occupation on a permanent and ongoing footing , while also enhancing the beauty and delectation of your pool .
3 natural mosquito solutions
Moving weewee : Awaterfall , a outflow , or an line bubbler maintain the surface H2O forever moving , which will keep female mosquitoes from laying their eggs . Or you could install a small pump in container pond , such as half barrels , to make a fountain or to twirl the water gently , which will also admonish egg put . The independent point : Moving water equalize no mosquitoes .
athirst Pisces : Pisces the Fishes are undecomposed at keeping out mosquitoes by eat up them , but magnanimous fish , like koi , are often too big to fee on small larva ; Lebistes reticulatus or killifish are more appropriate for this purpose . The trick is not to fertilize them — or , at least , feed them very little — because an outdoor pool has enough louse , algae , and other being to feed your Pisces of course .
be adrift plants : Plants can be utile in dilute the surface expanse of ponds . Waterlilies ( Nymphaeacvs . , USDA Hardiness zone 3–11 ) are the best option for this , but many floating plants will also block off out mosquito . Be certain to checkinvasive reportsbefore purchase water plants , as many salmagundi are invasive .
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You have chemical-free options to turn to when keeping mosquitoes out of your water garden.Photo: Steve Aitken
Moving water prevents female mosquitoes from laying eggs.Photo: Virginia Small
Hungry fish gobble up mosquitoes.Photo: Colleen Fitzpatrick
Plants reduce the surface area on which mosquitoes might reproduce.Photo: Steve Aitken
