Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Mosquito Larvae
I have been advised that I need some fish in my deliberately fishless
wildlife pond to control the mosquitoes. My neighbour has offered sticklebacks. But now, probably because of the lack of fish, I have very large numbers diving beetles and water boatmen on the surface - which I would guess would eat any larvae. I would rather not have fish cos I don't want have to have pumps and filters etc. Anyone any experience of how well my predatory insects might control mosquitoes? thanks Davy |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Mosquito Larvae
"Davy" wrote:
I have been advised that I need some fish in my deliberately fishless wildlife pond to control the mosquitoes. My neighbour has offered sticklebacks. But now, probably because of the lack of fish, I have very large numbers diving beetles and water boatmen on the surface - which I would guess would eat any larvae. I would rather not have fish cos I don't want have to have pumps and filters etc. Anyone any experience of how well my predatory insects might control mosquitoes? At a Buddhist temple in Northern Thailand, the monks referred to mosquito larvae as "frog food!" I'll be putting some Mosquito Fish, from the County Vector Control folks, in what remains of my former Koi pond. They'll have to shift for themselves. -- Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families! Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! ! ~Semper Fi~ |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Mosquito Larvae
Water boatmen generally are not predatory. They mostly feed on plants and
algae. Great diving beetles are predatory but depending upon their size, mosquito larvae may be too small to interest them - they would look for tadpoles, small fish etc. Depending upon many factors I don't see why you would have to have filters, pumps etc if you introduced stickleback or mosquito fish (Gambusia) into your pond. Both species are small with correspondingly small biological output (they don't poop a lot). Both species are very adaptable with respect to water quality. I see you are posting from the UK so I don't know if it is legal to introduce Gambusia or other "exotics" into an outside ecosystem but stickle backs are native to the UK so they should not be a problem. If you introduced a small numer into your pond they would provide mosquito larvae control over the long term. As an asside, who advised you that you need to introduce fish? The municipality where I live has a long, successful record of controlling mosquito larvae by using a targeted biological pesticide, Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis This has no effect on other insects and is environmentally friendly. So there may be options for mosquito control that either do not require the introduction of fish, or if you can select the appropriate fish species they will have a minimal effect on the ecosystem of your nature pond. "Davy" wrote in message ... I have been advised that I need some fish in my deliberately fishless wildlife pond to control the mosquitoes. My neighbour has offered sticklebacks. But now, probably because of the lack of fish, I have very large numbers diving beetles and water boatmen on the surface - which I would guess would eat any larvae. I would rather not have fish cos I don't want have to have pumps and filters etc. Anyone any experience of how well my predatory insects might control mosquitoes? thanks Davy |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Mosquito Larvae
On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:39:41 CST, "Davy"
wrote: I have been advised that I need some fish in my deliberately fishless wildlife pond to control the mosquitoes. My neighbour has offered sticklebacks. But now, probably because of the lack of fish, I have very large numbers diving beetles and water boatmen on the surface - which I would guess would eat any larvae. I would rather not have fish cos I don't want have to have pumps and filters etc. Anyone any experience of how well my predatory insects might control mosquitoes? thanks Davy I've got oodles of dragonflies. They just came, I didn't do anything special. I have no fish, but green, gold, blue, red, black, combinations, dragonflies of all sizes and colors, you name it, it's there. The actual dragonflies keep any flying mosquitoes or other things in check. Their nymphs seem to control any larvae, I've never seen any mosquito larvae here, and I'd think a pond in northern Florida would be an ideal spot for them. There are also "mosquito dunks" (Bacillus thuringiensis) that you can get from a number of places. I got a bunch when I moved here (expecting a whole bunch of mosquitoes to control -- I have three ponds) but haven't found them necessary. It may be the dragonflies, but then again it may be the frogs, or perhaps the water snake just scares them away. But I really think it's the dragonflies. -- Galen Hekhuis I may have mispoken |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Mosquito Larvae
I run a couple deck ponds, up on a shelf so
I have a good look at what is inside - snails, tadpoles, seed shrimp, tubiflex worms and other assorted critters. One thing I noticed was that in a tub that only had snails I never got any mosquito larvae. A tub right next to it, without snails, I got larvae. I figure the snails slurped up the eggs along with everything else. Sometimes you'll see a snail crusiing across the water, upside down, seemingly vaccing up the surface, I use Mosquito Bits in pondlets and areas that I'm not keeping a close eye on. k :-) http://tinyurl.com/6bguh ~ new pond keeper info http://tinyurl.com/yp64db ~ slide show of pond |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Mosquito Larvae
"Davy" wrote:
I have been advised that I need some fish in my deliberately fishless wildlife pond to control the mosquitoes. My neighbour has offered sticklebacks. But now, probably because of the lack of fish, I have very large numbers diving beetles and water boatmen on the surface - which I would guess would eat any larvae. I would rather not have fish cos I don't want have to have pumps and filters etc. Anyone any experience of how well my predatory insects might control mosquitoes? thanks Davy You can use mosquito dunks. They look like little donuts, and are essentially BT specific to mosquitoes. San Diego Joe 4,000 - 5,000 Gallons. Koi, Goldfish, and RES named Colombo. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Mosquito Larvae
On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:38:33 CST, "Doug Brown"
wrote: The municipality where I live has a long, successful record of controlling mosquito larvae by using a targeted biological pesticide, Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis This has no effect on other insects and is environmentally friendly. Even more environmentally friendly than Gambusia which not only feast on mosquito larvae but eat frog spawn. It is sold here as a product called Mosquito Dunks. ~ jan ------------ Zone 7a, SE Washington State Ponds: www.jjspond.us |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Mosquito Larvae
Doug,
"Doug Brown" wrote in message ... Water boatmen generally are not predatory. They mostly feed on plants and algae. In Britain, "water boatmen" refer to a very predatory beetle-like insect that lives upside down on the bottom surface of the water surface. They have two extended legs which they use to 'row' across the surface. They continually move around the surface looking for prey. They are able to dive down like water beetles. They have a beak which they thrust through the water surface to grab any creature floating on the water surface. If you try to pick them up they give you quite a painful bite. Davy |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Mosquito Larvae
Davy wrote:
I have been advised that I need some fish in my deliberately fishless wildlife pond to control the mosquitoes. My neighbour has offered sticklebacks. But now, probably because of the lack of fish, I have very large numbers diving beetles and water boatmen on the surface - which I would guess would eat any larvae. I would rather not have fish cos I don't want have to have pumps and filters etc. Anyone any experience of how well my predatory insects might control mosquitoes? thanks Davy I assume you have plants in the pond so chlorine or bromine are out of the question. Mosquitos won't lay eggs in moving water so lots of pumps for waterfalls and spitters and sprinklers will do. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | Rate This Thread |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Best Mosquito and Bug Killer? Mosquito Magnet? Spray? Net? | Gardening | |||
Mosquito Larvae!!!!! | United Kingdom | |||
Mosquito Deleto vs. Mosquito Magnet | Gardening | |||
Cranefly larvae | Edible Gardening | |||
Vine Weevil Larvae in outside soil. | United Kingdom |