Pond And Lake Mosquito Control And Lake Vegetation

Some things are inherently interesting. The relationship between insects and vegetation is such a subject. Interactions can be very simple, but they can also be very complex. In this case, it is simple.

Sometimes, the removal of one form of plant life from the habitat will change the balance. A minor alteration in habitat can make a major difference in the type of insect life in an area. In the case of mosquitoes and vegetation, getting rid of cover on a pond, will usually get rid of most mosquito problems.

Mosquito habits and habitats

The best way for controlling insects is by getting a better understanding of their habits, and the habitats they prefer, and then depriving them of what they need to survive by changing the habitat. Let’s start by getting a little better understanding of the mosquito, and how the mosquito and vegetation in a pond or lake interact.

Mosquitoes and what they need

The mosquito has several needs. The female needs blood before producing eggs. So, they will seek areas with available animal life. They need a wet place to lay their eggs where they and their eggs and larvae will be protected.
This usually happens in an area where there is sufficient vegetation of some type to provide this cover. In most cases this comes in the form of filamentous algae.

Filamentous algae

Filamentous algae is only one part of the problem, but it is usually the largest part. The algae normally grows in the shallow, still water closest to the shoreline, and that is also where other cover grows. This is the perfect breeding and hatching ground for the mosquito. It has shallow still water, it is close to the places where small animals come to drink, which provides a supply of fresh blood, and the algae and other vegetation provide perfect cover. Learn more about: algae and algae control

Bringing balance to a pond

Controlling the algae, and bringing the lake or pond back into balance, will allow natural predators to take care of the problem. There is really no way, or reason to attempt to get rid of the mosquitoes until the cover is gone. When the cover is gone, the fish, frogs, birds, and other insect eaters will be able to find the larvae, and the mosquitoes, and eat them. The problem will go away on it’s own simply by leveling the playing field.

Managing vegetation and preventing insects

The best insect control is prevention. Prevention usually involves some alteration in the environment, this usually involves the control of vegetation. In fact, in almost all cases of aquatic or terrestrial insect problems, there is a vegetation management issue involved. When that is solved, whether it is high weeds and brush in an adjoining vacant lot, or overgrowth and algae in a pond or lake, the problem will go away! In most cases when a chemical is used to get rid of an insect pest, the first choice should be an herbicide!

Don’t use insecticides on or near the water.

Insecticides should not be used in areas where the residue might end up in the water! At the very least, insecticides will kill the bugs that the fish use for food. Most insecticides are nerve toxins that have more impact on lower life forms than higher life forms because of their less complicated nerve systems. Because of this, it takes less insecticide to kill a bug than a human being with a much more complex nervous system. Since the fish have a very simple nervous system, it takes very little insecticide to kill them. Herbicides work in a completely different manner, and the proper ones, used properly, will not harm the fish.

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