How to Remove Mosquito Larvae from a Pool – Because the biggest problems sometimes come from the smallest sources, I’ve dedicated my life to combating and controlling the spread of mosquitoes and their diseases.
I despise these tiny annoyances and am always looking for ways to prevent or eliminate their presence in my environment.
When it comes to mosquitoes, most people concentrate on the adult versions of these bloodsuckers. I prefer to avoid problems by eliminating them in their infancy.
Most people are unaware that mosquitos lay their eggs and mature in bodies of water such as swimming pools and stagnant water.
But don’t worry, I wrote this article to educate you on the best ways to get rid of mosquito larvae in your pool and stop the problem before it starts.
Mosquitoes: What You Should Know
Before we get into how to keep mosquitos out of your yard, it’s important to understand these pesky pests.
To begin, mosquitos have four developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Female mosquitos lay their eggs on the surface of standing water, in damp rotting vegetation, or on the walls of water-filled containers.
A single mosquito can lay up to 400 eggs at once. It’s no surprise that they appear to be everywhere at once!
While still in the water, the mosquito develops from egg to larva to pupa, a process that takes about a week. Because mosquito larvae are so small, they can hatch in even the smallest amount of water.
Mosquitoes mate when they mature from pupae to flying adults. After mating, females seek the nutrients (or blood) required for egg development, and the cycle begins again.
Mosquitoes find humans to feed on using smell, carbon dioxide, and temperature.
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A mosquito’s life cycle
Mosquitoes develop in three stages before reaching adulthood, with the majority of their time spent in water.
Before maturation, a mosquito egg goes through three major stages.
- The egg is the first stage that an adult female lays in a body of water.
- Larvae: the second stage of development in which the egg develops breathing components and rises to the surface.
- Pupa: it is nearing maturity at this stage.
- Adult: This is the stage at which the pupa develops into a mature mosquito.
However, it is critical to try to destroy the mosquitoes while they are still larvae to prevent them from maturing and becoming more difficult to eradicate.
How Mosquito Larvae Infiltrate Your Pool
Mosquitoes develop in four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
They are drawn to stagnant water surfaces and lay their eggs there. When the eggs hatch, they enter the larval stage, which lasts approximately 10 days before they fully mature into adults.
Mosquitoes can lay up to 400 eggs at a time, allowing them to multiply quickly, so it’s in your best interest to avoid an infestation by any means possible.
If you have a mosquito larvae problem, you’ll notice them quickly because they have a “pin-like” appearance and wiggle around in the water.
Is Mosquito Larvae A Problem?
Yes, but not for the reason you might expect.
Larvae live beneath the water’s surface and feed on whatever microorganisms they can find, but they aren’t necessarily dangerous to humans.
In any case, larvae are a foreign substance that the chlorine in your pool will try to sanitize *cough* kill, resulting in increased chlorine consumption.
How to Get Rid of Mosquito Larvae in Pool
There are a few different methods how to kill mosquito larvae in your pool.
1. First, kill them.
Killing mosquito larvae in your pool is necessary so that they can be removed from the water more easily. There are several options for doing so:
Chlorine. Unfortunately, even in small amounts, chlorine will not kill mosquito larvae. This means you’ll have to shock the pool, which may or may not kill everything.
The issue is that high levels of chlorine are hazardous to swimmers, necessitating more time, money, and chemicals to rebalance the water chemistry (compared to other methods).
The mosquito dunks.
Mosquito dunks are small, slow-dissolving rings thrown into the pool. They contain BTI, a bacteria on which the larvae feed.
They have no idea that it will also kill them. Dunks have no effect on the chemistry of your water and are safe for swimmers, pets, birds, and other wildlife.
Most pools only require two or three dunks, making them one of the most effective ways to eradicate larvae, and they’re also very inexpensive!
Granules of methoprene.
Methoprene granules are simple to add to any pool and contain a synthetic growth hormone inhibitor that stunts larvae development.
Granules, as opposed to dunks, allow for greater distribution in the pool. A single application can be effective for up to 30 days, ensuring that the larvae do not survive past the pupa stage.
Household items
If you want to experiment with household items, apple cider vinegar, bleach, dish soap, shampoo, and oil can all kill mosquito larvae.
If you go this route, you must also take the necessary steps to rebalance the water and remove oils from it.
2. Gather Them Up
A skimmer net can be used to quickly remove dead (or mostly dead) larvae from the water.
Use your pool vacuum to remove mosquito larvae more easily and thoroughly. Vacuuming to waste sends the larvae straight out the system’s waste line, where they will never be seen again.
Just keep in mind that depending on how much vacuuming is required, you may need to replace the drained water.
Automatic pool cleaners, whether pressure-side, suction-side, or robotic, can also be used to aid in the cleanup process.
3. Let Your Filter Do It
You can always leave your pump running and let the pool’s filtration system handle the problem. This will, however, take more time, and you will need to clean out your cartridges or backwash your filter to keep it from becoming clogged.
Additionally, by wrapping a skimmer sock (or even a hair net) around your skimmer basket, you can “pre-filter” the water. This will catch the larvae, reducing the strain on the filter, and you can toss the sock when you’re finished.
4. Trim the vegetation around the pool’s edges.
A dense vegetation, in addition to water, can aid in mosquito breeding. These insects prefer warm climates, and vegetation near a body of water can provide an ideal environment for them to lay their eggs.
It is critical to significantly trim any surrounding foliage that is close to the pool in order to limit the conditions required for mosquito breeding.
5. Mosquito control helps to reduce larvae
No strategy here can guarantee that you will eliminate all larvae, so be prepared to fight adult mosquitoes during the summer.
Mosquito traps are one of the most effective mosquito control methods.
These devices can kill thousands of animals in a single evening!
There are even some versions designed to keep them out of your home (however many of these indoor mosquito traps are less effective than the bigger ones for outdoor use).
Mosquito traps and bug zappers can quickly kill large numbers of mosquitos.
Mosquito lanterns are similar; many of my friends swear by these devices on their patio.
Mosquito repellent sprays are a less expensive option. The majority of them provide excellent and long-lasting protection. The only real disadvantage is that the application can be time-consuming (especially if you have a large area to cover).
Check out Nature’s Mace’s mosquito control concentrates. They are made of natural but potent ingredients and are effective against a wide range of insects:
- Nature’s MacePool Natural Insect Repellent
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Mosquito Prevention Tips
What can you do to keep mosquitoes from ruining your next pool dip? Pool owners who want to avoid mosquito bites at their next backyard gathering can take several precautions to control mosquitoes around the pool area.
1. Keep Your Pool in Good Condition
Keeping your pool in good condition is one of the best ways to keep mosquitos away. During the summer, run a pool pump every few hours to circulate the water.
Keep your swimming pool chlorinated and disinfected at all times to help kill mosquito larvae. Mosquitoes prefer to lay eggs in water with leaves in it, so make sure to skim leaves from the surface of your pool as soon as possible.
2. Check Your Pool Cover for Water
Water can accumulate on your pool cover when it is not in use after a rainfall or even after your sprinklers run, depending on where they are located.
Remove this water as soon as possible because mosquitoes can develop in as little as 10 days. Keep your pool cover tightly closed to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your pool when some of your pool equipment is not being used as frequently.
3. Eliminate all Other Sources of Standing Water
Aside from pool water, smaller bodies of standing water such as birdbaths or fountains can also serve as a breeding site in your backyard.
Put mosquito-eating fish in ponds. To prevent water accumulation, change the water in any plastic wading pools once a week and turn them upside down when not in use. Use mosquito dunks in birdbaths and clean your gutters on a regular basis.
Every week, walk around your yard and empty any water that has accumulated in ceramic pots or other containers.
4. Keep Your Lawn Clean
Though a pool and bodies of standing water are the primary sources of mosquito growth and infestation in your backyard, there are a few things you can do outside of the pool area to help eliminate mosquitoes.
Maintaining a well-kept lawn is critical for mosquito prevention. On a hot summer day, overgrown grass and hedges provide shade in the cool vegetation.
To properly care for your lawn, cut it on a regular basis, trim the hedges, and eliminate any weeds and wild grass. Avoid overwatering your planters, as leftover moisture can serve as a mosquito breeding ground.
5. Mosquito Control in Nature
There are also natural remedies available to get rid of mosquito larvae in pool, such as citronella candles, torches, and lanterns. When burned, citronella oils confuse mosquitos by masking human and animal body odors.
While not a guarantee, using citronella oil correctly can significantly reduce the chances of a mosquito landing on you or your family.
Incorporating mosquito repellent plants into your pool or landscape, such as lemon balm, rosemary, and lavender, can also make spending time outside more bearable. On a porch or patio, fans can help keep mosquitoes at bay.
Finally
While you may have taken all precautions to prevent mosquito larvae from residing in your pool, you must also pay attention to other potential water bodies in your area that may also harbor mosquito larvae, such as fountains, toilet bowls, clogged drains, and so on.
When you combine all of these steps, you will undoubtedly have a much less infested pool and the presence of mosquitoes in your vicinity.
So, good luck to get rid of mosquito larvae in pool!