Get Rid Of Standing Water
After they mate, mosquitoes can only deposit their eggs in stagnant or slow-moving water. The water must be calm enough for the mosquito to land in so they can lay their floating egg clumps on the surface.
Check your yard for sources of standing water. Even if mosquitoes havent recently laid eggs, eggs can survive for months until a water source returns. Mosquitoes only need a thimble-sized amount of water to breed.
Empty out buckets, get rid of old tires, and fill in areas of your property that remain moist. Change the water in wading pools and fountains frequently. Mosquitoes cannot breed in moving water. Thats why if you have a fountain, youll need to keep it in motion.
How To Keep Mosquitoes Away From Your Pool
I dont know about you, but nothing is more irritating to me than mosquitoes larking around me and biting ceaselessly. Its even more disturbing when I am enjoying my bathing or swimming in my favorite pool. But unfortunately, due to the humid swamp condition, mosquitoes have some certain love to keep themselves around the pool area. They are not only a disgusting, filthy little bug, but also can bring some serious health hazards like Zika Virus, Dengue, or West Nile Virus for you and your family. So, its a basic requirement for all pool owners to get rid of mosquitoes from their pool area. Lets know how to do it.
What Do Mosquitoes Eat
Adult mosquitoes feed on nectar from flowers and other sources of sugar, such as plant or fruit juices, and honeydew secreted by certain plant sap-sucking insects like aphids. The females of many mosquito species also need to feed on blood for their eggs to develop.
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How To Kill Mosquito Larvae In Water 10 Methods To Stop Mosquitoes Breeding
Weve written in the past about the best mosquito killer for getting rid of adult mosquitoes. But killing adult mosquitoes is only part of the equation. To eliminate your mosquito problem for good, you need to get to the source.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing, stagnant water. Those eggs hatch into larvae, which is the next stage of the mosquito life cycle. If those larvae grow unchecked, they will quickly turn into hungry, bloodsucking adult mosquitoes that will invade your home.
Mosquito larvae in a pond
So what do you do when you find mosquito larvae?
There are two approaches to dealing with this problem. The first is to kill the existing larvae. The next is preventing larva growth in the first place.
Lets go over each of these methods.
In This Article:
How Mosquito Larvae Gets Into Your Pool
Mosquitoes have four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Theyre drawn to stagnant water surfaces, where they lay their eggs. Once the eggs hatch, they enter the larval phase, which lasts about 10 days before they go on to fully mature into adults.
Mosquitoes can lay up to 400 eggs at a time allowing them to multiply and a high rate, so its in your best interest to avoid an infestation using whatever means necessary.
Youll know pretty quickly if you have an issue with mosquito larvae, as they have a specific pin-like appearance and wriggle around in the water.
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Deploy Extra Tactics For A Backyard Event
Having a pool party, backyard cookout, or other special outdoor activity? It might be worth going the extra mile to keeping mosquitoes at bay. It may be time for supplemental warfare.
One method to prepare your outdoor space in advance of the big day: Effective, but temporary, spray insecticides such as pyrethrin or resmethrin.
Spray it on trees, shrubs, hedges, and plants in your outdoor space. It will kill mosquitoes that come into contact with it. However, its potency will last only for only a few hours or up to a day. Carefully read all product information and follow instructions for application.
For a non-toxic approach, use portable fans. Thats right, use wind to blow the mosquitoes away from key party areas where people will hang out. Set out a few fans at ground level, and turn them on. Since mosquitoes bodies are extremely lightweight, they have serious trouble flying in windy conditions.
Another approach for a special event is to burn citronella candles, torches, and lanterns. Derived from lemongrass, citronella oils provide a natural way to outsmart mosquitoes and minimize their bites.
When burning, the oils smell and smoke confuse mosquitoeseffectively disguising human and animal body odors. When mosquitos cannot detect these smells, the odds drop that they will land on you or your guests.
Dont let mosquitoes mess with your backyard fun. You invested in a backyard resort, so keep flying pests from making your day anything less than perfect.
Maintain Your Chlorine Level
The free chlorine level in your pool should always be kept between 1 and 3 ppm for effective sanitizing.
While this level of chlorine wont kill mosquito larvae, it will make it hard for larvae to appear and grow.
Besides, keeping the pools chlorine at the proper level will keep it healthy so that other nasty things cant grow.
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How To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes
According to Nair, larvae are easier to manage than adult mosquitoes due to their lack of mobility.
Larvae live in water, so the best way to get rid of them is to reduce places where mosquitoes can breed. Eliminate open containers of water. Such containers can vary from as small as a bottle cap to as large as a poorly maintained swimming pool or a tarp covering a vehicle, Nair said.
Adult mosquitoes can be managed by using traps or spraying pesticides, although these can affect people and pets. Make sure screens on windows and doors are intact and fit snugly. If you’re bothered while doing outdoor recreation, apply insect repellent.
You can connect with Arizona Republic culture and outdoors reporter Shanti Lerner through email at or you can also follow her on .
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Wrapping It Up: How To Get Rid Of Mosquito Larvae For Good
Hopefully, you now feel better equipped to get rid of mosquito larvae in your swimming pool. When you kill these larvae, you will notice that the mosquito population that year will decrease significantly. Of course, mosquitoes are part of the food chain, and we are not trying to eradicate them.
However, if you do not do your part as a responsible pool owner, you will deal with a large number of mosquitoes, and the situation could make your pool and pool area virtually unusable. Follow our steps, and you will have a much less itchy pool season!
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Getting Rid Of Mosquitoes Is A Process
While wed all like this to be a one-time process, its not. Larvae will come back if not managed throughout mosquito season. However, following the solutions, listed above, and knowing the best time to spray for mosquitoes, is the most productive way to get rid of and kill mosquito larvae in your yard.
Reasons For Mosquito Eggs In Pool
A swimming pool in your property increases the chances of mosquito infestation in your home manifold.
And all these mosquitoes wouldnt have been in your home if theres no place for them to lay eggs.
The go-to place for mosquitoes to lay eggs is the stagnant water.
The biggest stagnant water body in your yard for the mosquitoes to lay eggs is your swimming pool.
So, why do mosquitoes lay eggs in the pool? There are two interconnected reasons for it.
- The first reason is the pool is dirty with organic matter like algae in it.
- And the second reason is water is essential for the mosquito eggs to hatch.
Upon hatching, the larvae, also known as wigglers, feed on dirt like the algae and the organic matter in the swimming pool.
And these wigglers breathe by floating on the waters surface.
Most of the swimming pools dont have fish and fountains.
That makes the water surface stable and apt for the mosquitoes to lay eggs.
Its not only on the swimming pool water that mosquitoes will lay eggs.
If theres a pond in your yard with no fountain or mosquito-eating fish, then mosquitoes will lay eggs there too.
A pool can get dirty for many reasons, which youd find out later in the post.
But for now, keep in mind that an ill-maintained pool will always attract mosquitoes and other water bugs.
Now that the reasons for mosquito eggs in a pool are clear.
The obvious question in your head is, what attracts mosquitoes to your swimming pool?
The following section answers your question.
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Use Mosquito Eating Fish
Weve talked a lot about fish ponds in this article. But did you know that many species of fish can actually help prevent mosquitoes?
Several species, such as koi, goldfish, bluegill, guppies, catfish, and the appropriately-named mosquitofishlove to eat mosquitoes.
Adding one or more of these fish to your backyard pond can kill two birds and many mosquitoes with one stone. First, youll add an attractive touch of life to your pond. Second, youll get rid of your mosquito problem.
When you purchase your fish, make sure that the fish are suitable for your area. Not all fish are equally suited for all climate zones.
What Are Mosquito Larvae
Mosquitoes are bloodsucking insects that have irritating bites. Before turning into those buzzing suckers, mosquitoes undergo transformation through metamorphosis. They go through four stages before turning into mosquitoes. The eggs are laid one at a time and group together , some of these eggs hatches within 48 hours after they are laid mosquito eggs love water and it is not necessary for their living since water is their habitat that is why you might find it common for mosquito eggs in water after they develop the next stage in their life cycle is the larvae.
The larvae live in water, these squiggly insects come to the surface to breathe. The larva is those squiggly little things you see in water mostly the mosquito lays an egg on stagnant water that is why you might observe that you might see larvae on pots with old water period after the larva stage they turn into the pupa this stage is where they rest and prepare to turn into the adult mosquito. In this stage of development but they are responsive to light changes like the butterfly this is where the mosquito develop itself and prepare for adulting. In the last stage of the life cycle of a mosquito, they emerge from the pupa and they rest on the surface of the water to dry themselves off before flying and sucking your blood. It would take those days before they eat blood and look for their partners to meet and make new baby mosquitoes and the cycle repeats.
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How Long For Mosquito Larvae To Mature
As is often the case with small animals like insects, their life spans are brief. That means each stage of their development is much shorter than the corresponding stage of a humans development. Mosquito larvae turn into pupae within five to ten days, and the pupae become adult mosquitoes in two to three days.
Turn On The Pool Pump And The Pool Filter To Circulate The Water
Now that you have taken care of the mosquito larvae and their eggs in the pool, there are a few more steps to take.
These steps will ensure that you dont face the mosquito problem in your pool in the longer run.
After cleaning, immediately turn on the pool filter and pool pump.
Mosquitoes dont lay eggs in running water. So, keeping the pool pump off will make the water stagnant, which can invite mosquitoes.
Check for no clogging in the pool drainage system. If theres any, clean the drainage system to allow free flow of water.
Let the system run for at least an hour.
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Clean Your Swimming Pool To Remove Algae And Debris
Had there been no algae or debris in the swimming pool, the mozzie larvae would have been dead by themselves.
Its because there wouldnt have been anything in your pool for them to eat.
So, clean your swimming pool to remove all the floating debris and, especially, algae.
You can use a swimming pool cleaner to clean the pool. The automatic ones are the best and the most reliable.
While cleaning, dont forget to clean the pool drains.
Tons of debris get stuck around the pool drains because of the water circulation.
What Attracts Mosquitoes To Swimming Pools
Ironically, your swimming pool isnt solely responsible for attracting mosquitoes.
Other elements in your yard also play a role in drawing those mosquitoes to the swimming pool.
And what are those elements?
From the plants in your yard to high dampness, there are many. Lets have a look at them.
Top 5 things that play a role in attracting mosquitoes to your pool.
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Are Mosquito Larvae In Pool Dangerous
Mosquito dunks present no danger to swimmers when used properly. Mosquito larvae have to develop in standing water before they become become adult mosquitoes. Because pool water often stays still over long periods, mosquitoes may lay eggs in it. Mosquito dunks may be able to safely kill the mosquito larvae in the pool.
Try Using Household Items To Kill Mosquito Larvae
Again, if controlling standing water is not an option, resort to household items such as dish soap, apple cider vinegar, or olive oil. While likely not as effective as a larvicide, these products are safer to use and are something you probably already have at home!
Dish Soap
Some soaps are extremely toxic to insects, including mosquitoes. The bubbles, in dish soap, suffocate the mosquito larvae, effectively killing them in about a day. For most control solutions, only a small amount is needed. However, insecticide-infused soaps can be purchased at hardware stores for larger, more severe amounts of mosquito larvae.
Dish soap shouldnt be used in ponds or birdbaths, as its often harmful to fish and birds.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a less damaging alternative to dish soap. While not always as successful as something like essential oils, apple cider vinegar can kill mosquito larvae when used in high concentrations. Youll need about a 15% vinegar to water ratio, to kill mosquito larvae in close to 24 hours.
Olive Oil
Olive oil, or vegetable oil, will coat the surface of standing water, making it impossible for mosquito larvae to get through or breathe. This only requires 1 tablespoon of oil per gallon of water. Similar to dish soap, however, this method should not be used around fish or birds.
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High Levels Of Dampness Around The Pool
Overwatering the yard and the perimeter around the pool is a big reason for high levels of dampness.
And when the dampness levels increase, it attracts mosquitoes and invasive bugs like ants, roaches, and even termites.
Overwatering also leads to waterlogging in the yard and potholes with stagnant water.
These are ideal places for mosquitoes to lay eggs.
How To Get Rid Of Mosquitos In Swimming Pool Standing Water
We have an above ground pool with about 6 inches of water that does not drain. The drain is located above the bottom, to keep water in it and weigh down the pool during the off season.
However, the still warm water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitos. This is a problem during the advent of warmer weather, before the pool is used.
It is a salt water system, and the pumps & chlorinator obviously cannot be operated with the water drained to this level. Once the pool is operational in the hot season, the conditioning and filtering prevent this mosquito problem. So this is really only a problem when the Spring weather is warm enough for breeding, but prior to starting the pool for the Summer.
Before I start-up the pool to fill it, I drain the water with a sump or water feature pump and then wet-vac it dry. This is something I do once at the beginning of the season, and takes a few hours of work. As measure to prevent mosquitos it would not be so good, since the bottom will fill with every rainfall and Id have to start over.
What can I do to prevent mosquitos breeding until I start-up the pool for the season?
- May 16 at 18:34
- 1Add a little soap to the water, and the larvae cannot stay at the top to breathe or is it oil? vegetable or other??
- jsotolaMay 17 at 4:37
- 1Dont put soap or oil in your pool that will just make a colossal mess that will require a ton of water to wash out and clean before you can fill it and start filtering.
Copper metal.
Goldfish
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Set Up A Pool Enclosure
Pool enclosures are screened-in structures that go over your pool. They create fully secure patio living areas that are virtually 100% effective at keeping out annoying mosquitoes.
They also help keep other bugs, debris, and, depending on the model, ultraviolet rays out. If you already have a pool enclosure, ensure it can still protect you by periodically checking for holes or tears.
Mosquito Treatment For Standing Water
Organic Mosquito Dunks
There are plenty of ways to kill mosquitos in standing water including mosquito dunks. is cheap as chips and one dunk covers 100 square feet of water. Ideal for ponds, feed troughs, bird baths and rainwater barrels. These are harmless to humans, animals and fish, but are super effective and killing mosquito larvae in ponds or other stagant water.
Mosquito dunks contains Bacillus Thyuringti-ensis Israelensis , a substance that is very toxic only to larvae.
The BTI is a delicacy for the Mosquito larvae thus used as a bait to kill them. As recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency it is very safe for organic gardening.
When you apply it on already infested water, one dunk treats 100 square feet water surface it takes only the first four hours to get rid of the existing larvae and keep the water free from new entrants. Mosquito dunks break downs slowly while it floats on top of water for thirty days.
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