How to Stop Mosquitoes Breeding in Your Outdoor Water Feature

Most people are aware that mosquitoes like to lay their eggs within large bodies of water. As such, if you're thinking of getting a water feature installed in your outdoor space, you may be wondering how to keep mosquitoes from breeding in it.

Not only do mosquitoes leave itchy, annoying bites that sometimes linger for days, they can also carry diseases. In general, it's a good idea to reduce the number of mosquitoes hanging about in your garden.

Luckily, there are several simple methods you can employ to reduce the number of mosquitoes wanting to breed in your water features. We discuss a number of these methods in today's blog. Read on to find out more!

What Causes Mosquitoes to Breed in Water Features?

Water features can be ideal spots for breeding mosquitoes as they often provide still, stagnant water for the insects to lay their eggs in. Once hatched, the larvae can then consume any algae or debris in the water, and the cycle continues. If you don't take steps to prevent mosquito breeding, your water feature could quickly become infested with these unwanted pests!

How to Stop Mosquitoes from Breeding in Your Outdoor Water Feature

There are several methods you can use to reduce the number of mosquitoes breeding in your outdoor water feature.

Utilise a High-Quality Pump

When building your pond or water feature, it's important to ensure you add a high-quality pump to the design. This will help to keep the water circulating, which in turn makes it more difficult for mosquitoes to lay their eggs in. Mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in still and stagnant water, so ensuring your water feature has good circulation should reduce the number of mosquitoes that think it's a good spot for breeding. Check out the range of pond and water feature pumps we have in stock to find one suitable for your water feature.

Add Fish to your Pond

Another way to prevent mosquito breeding is by adding fish to your outdoor pond. Many types of fish will consume larvae before it has a chance to hatch, effectively breaking the cycle. Goldfish, guppies, koi, and minnows all enjoy chowing down on mosquito larvae. Just be sure not to overcrowd your pond with fish, as this can lead to issues with waste. If you're unsure what type of fish would be best for your pond, speak to one of our experts today. They'll be able to advise you on the most suitable options based on the size of your pond, the climate, which fish you can legally keep in your state, and any other factors you should consider.

Eliminate Algae

Cleaning out any algae you see and generally keeping your water feature clean is a good way to ensure mosquito larvae has little to feed on once it hatches. This means regularly cleaning out any debris or algae that may be present in order to limit mosquito activity. You can remove larger debris pieces using a net, and tackle algae and other, smaller debris issues with water treatments. Aquascape Australia stocks many different pond and water treatments, including Diatomix IV which is specially formulated to reduce algae blooms.

Introduce Fountains, Waterfalls, and Spitters

Another way to ensure you have more water movement is to install fountains, waterfalls, and spitters to your water feature. Some pond filters can also double as waterfalls and trickling water features. Our Pond Waterfall Filter is a simple way to create a waterfall within your pond. We also stock Pond Filter Urns that produce a gentle trickle of water. Alternatively, you could install a spitter in your water feature. These come in a range of different designs, including the Dragonfly Spitter, Alligator Spitter, Standing Crane Spitter, Naughty Dog Spitter, and Deer Scarer Bamboo Fountain. There are lots of different ways to bring more running water to your pond, so you're sure to find one that suits your needs and fits in with your design aesthetic.

Encourage Frogs and Tadpoles

Many types of frogs and tadpoles enjoy feasting on mosquito larvae. As such, it can be a good idea to take steps to encourage these critters to make your water feature their home. To encourage frogs to stop by your pond, place marginal plants around the perimeter of your water feature to provide them with shelter and protection. You can also grow plants such as water lilies within the pond itself, to provide protection from predators for frogs and tadpoles having a swim.

Benefits of Controlling Mosquitoes

There are many benefits of controlling mosquitoes in your outdoor water feature.

Enjoy the Outdoors

You'll be able to enjoy spending time outside without worrying about being swarmed by pesky, biting mosquitos. If mosquitoes don't find your water feature to be a suitable breeding ground, there should hopefully be less mosquitoes buzzing about.

Reduce Risks

Mosquitoes can harbour some pretty nasty diseases. Reducing the likelihood of mosquitoes breeding in your water feature could also help to reduce the overall risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases, such as Dengue fever and Ross River virus.

Keep Other Pests Away

Not only are mosquitoes an annoying pest, they also play their part in attracting other pests to a space! Controlling the number of mosquitoes in your yard can help to keep other pests - such as ants and cockroaches - away from your water feature, as they often feed on mosquito larvae.

There are a number of ways to reduce the number of mosquitoes breeding in your outdoor water feature. For best results, try to incorporate several different methods. This could include adding mosquito larvae-loving fish to your pond along with a high-quality pump and a spitter for extra water circulation, or creating a nice habitat for frogs and keeping on top of algae production.

If you need assistance with a mosquito problem in your water feature, or simply want to learn more about creating a mosquito-deterring pond, contact a local Certified Aquascape Contractor (CAC). Our CACs can offer information and advice to help you solve your mosquito issue.