As a pond-keeper, most likely you want to spend your late afternoons outside enjoying your peaceful water garden without constantly swatting away a swarm of biting insects. Since mosquitoes breed in any still water they can find, having a pond in your backyard inevitably invites these annoying pests. Although you cannot eliminate mosquitoes entirely, you can significantly decrease their population. Here are some of our recommendations:

Natural Control

• Add a waterfall - mosquitoes cannot breed in moving water
• Add Mosquito Fish - these tiny guppies have big appetites for mosquito larvae, and can slip into the small crevices larger fish cannot
• Put up a bat house - bats can gobble up hundreds of insects in one hour
• Another natural technique to repel mosquitoes is to use Sandalwood Mosquito Sticks, which ward away mosquitoes with incense

Nontoxic Insecticide Control

• Use a product that contains the biologic larvicide Bti, or Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, such as Mosquito Dunks or Microbe-Lift Liquid Mosquito Control

Remember, mosquitoes are more than just pesky insects - they are also carriers of West Nile Virus and heartworm. Taking steps to prevent your pond from becoming a neighborhood breeding ground will benefit your family's health and other family pets, while making those evenings by the pond more enjoyable for everyone.