Mosquito and my Backyard Pond Water Feature

Ponds unfairly get pegged as mosquito breeding territory. With minor tweaks, a true mosquito pond could be solved and become breeding grounds no more. If you don't have a pond but you're wondering--- fear not and read on. A common concern that new or soon to be pond owners express is whether their pond can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The life cycle of the mosquito is just like any fly with 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult. The first 3 stages are aquatic and last for just over a week, the adult stage lasts about a month or so.  To lay eggs in the first place, mosquito prefer stagnant water; i.e. slow moving or motionless still water with low oxygen levels and high nutrient levels.

If your watergarden is correctly built, there should not only be no stagnant water areas, but attract many types species that happily and aggressively eat mosquitoes. These species include but are not limited to: fish, dragonfly, frogs, and birds. If mosquito are still coming, there may be a swampy area elsewhere on your property or the neighbors. Check around!

If your pond is built different than the Aquascape Inc. set up, consider adding something like a spitter decor fountain to churn up the stagnant water areas you're finding. Spitters can be a fun decorative addition to the water feature anyways. The addition of an air station, such as a bubbler, will also churn up the water AND add some extra oxygen to your fish. If it's filtration you're lacking, considering adding a skimmer box, as it will help solve more than just a mosquito issue-- it'll clear up all sorts of maintenance problems you might be having, too!!!

Recap:

WATER CONDITIONS in your pond

• High oxygen levels because of aerators, waterfalls, and streams.
• Low nutrient levels because of filtration systems, water treatments, and aquatic plantings.
• Lots of water movement from pumping systems, skimmers, decor spitter fountains
  

ENVIRONMENT of your pond

• Fish, dragonfly, frogs, birds and bats  all either eat mosquito larva or mosquito adults!

TREATMENTS for your pond

• Mosquito Dunks is a popular and effective treatment.

So Now What???

It is perfectly normal to wonder about the potential mosquito issues with a pond---especially if you inherited a pond with a new home purchase. Fortunately, a well-managed pond is exactly NOT the place that mosquitoes want to be or lay eggs. Our well balanced ponds will be home for all sorts of critters that have an appetite for mosquitoes and their eggs.

Dreamscapes has a full service maintenance program that travels all over the Lebanon, Lancaster and Dauphin County areas constructing and installing pond tents. We also carry a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August.  If you think you need it, we have it!



Retail Hours:  April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                     October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT


Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com

Dreamscapes Watergardens services koi ponds and waterfalls in the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA