How to Have a Pond Without the Mosquitoes

Mosquito larvae need standing water to mature.A pond can be a peaceful and attractive addition to your back yard landscape but not if it's home to a horde of hungry mosquitoes. While it can be difficult to eliminate these blood-suckers from your outdoor life completely, you can reduce their numbers significantly with a bit of planning. And if you don't mind engaging in a little manipulation of Mother Nature, you can have your pond and avoid the insects, too.






1
Design your pond to discourage mosquito breeding. California's Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District (ACMAD) recommends constructing a large pond, at least 18 inches deep, with steep, not sloping, sides. ACMAD also recommends situating the pond in a sunny place well away from overhanging vegetation. Mosquito larvae thrive in small, shallow pools that are still and shaded.

2
Maintain the landscape surrounding your pond. Don't let grass grow higher than a few inches, and keep shrubs and other plants trimmed back. Tall, thick vegetation encourages mosquito growth.

3
Eliminate standing water wherever possible. Watch potted plants especially, as mosquitoes can breed in as little as 1 inch of standing water -- like that found in the drip trays of potted plants.

4
Landscape with mosquito repelling plants like citronella grass, catnip or Pelargonium citrosum, which is sometimes called "mosquito plant." These plants contain oils that repel mosquitoes and other insects, and may be helpful in controlling adult mosquito populations near your pond. As their effect is variable, these plants should not be your primary method of eliminating mosquitoes.

Mosquito Killers

1
Stock your pond with insectivorous fish. The most effective of these is the mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. These fish are so effective at eliminating mosquito larvae from ponds that vector control departments in some places make them available to homeowners at no charge. Other fish that eat mosquito larvae include koi, goldfish and guppies.

2
Get a red-eared slider, or Trachemys scripta elegans. This turtle, native to the Mississippi River valley, has been shown to reduce the population of mosquito larvae significantly in ponds, ditches and storage tanks. They may need supplemental feeding, but they can be an interesting and attractive means of mosquito control.

Attract birds and bats to your yard with bird feeders, bird houses and bat boxes. While certain research indicates that mosquitoes don't make up a large percentage of either birds' or bats' diets, these predators can help play a part in controlling adult mosquito populations.


Use Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis disks or pellets in your pond. This insecticide, commonly known as Bti, is a soil bacterium that is lethal to mosquito larvae but not to other insects or animals. Simply drop the disk or sprinkle the pellets in the water to poison any mosquito larvae in the pond.

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