Can Mosquitoes Breed In A Tower Garden

How-To

Q&A: Keeping Water Gardens Mosquito-Free

You have chemical-free options to turn to when keeping mosquitoes out of your water garden.
Photo/Illustration: Steve Aitken

How do you keep a water garden from attracting mosquitoes? I'd love to have one, but I don't want the bugs. —Eva Carlow, Iowa City, Iowa

John Bueglas, entomologist and operator of Dubé Botanical Gardens in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, responds:

"West Nile Virus," "spiral meningitis," and "mosquitoes"—combine these three terms and the result is an unwarranted fear of all bodies of water as a potential breeding ground for illness. The best habitat for mosquito larvae is actually shallow, stagnant water, which is not commonly found in backyard ponds. Mosquito larvae are air breathers with a breathing tube like a snorkel that must break the surface of the water for them to take in air while they stay under water to look for food. If the water's surface is moving, it becomes virtually impossible for them to breathe and they drown.

Products that control mosquito larvae are available to consumers. Items like mosquito pucks contain Bacillus thuringiensis spp. israelensis, which is a bacterium that will kill mosquito larvae (but has no effect on eggs or pupae). While they are effective, they must be replaced regularly. There are easier, more natural ways to keep mosquitoes at bay, including using plants that block bugs and fish that love to munch on insects and their larvae. These alternatives do the job on a permanent and ongoing basis, while also enhancing the beauty and enjoyment of your pond.

3 Natural mosquito solutions

Moving water: A waterfall, a fountain, or an air bubbler keeps the surface water constantly moving, which will keep female mosquitoes from laying their eggs. Or you can install a small pump in container ponds, such as half barrels, to create a fountain or to swirl the water gently, which will also discourage egg laying. The main point: Moving water equals no mosquitoes.

Hungry fish: Fish are good at keeping out mosquitoes by eating them, but large fish, like koi, are often too big to feed on small larvae; guppies or killifish are more appropriate for this purpose. The trick is not to feed them—or, at least, feed them very little—because an outdoor pond has enough insects, algae, and other organisms to feed your fish naturally.

Floating plants: Plants can be useful in reducing the surface area of ponds. Waterlilies (Nymphaea cvs., USDA Hardiness Zones 3–11) are the best choice for this, but many floating plants will also block out mosquitoes. Be sure to check invasive reports (www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/main.shtml) before purchasing water plants as many varieties are invasive.

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