Mosquitoes can grow in deserted pools.
While most mosquito bites are an annoying nuisance, some mosquitoes also carry serious diseases, such as meningitis and West Nile virus. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, making a deserted swimming a potential hotbed for mosquito larvae. With the proper care, mosquitoes can be prevented from visiting deserted swimming pools.
Significance
Mosquitoes require water to place their eggs. The eggs float on the surface of water in clusters of more than 100. Deserted swimming pools, either where the water has been left untreated or where rainwater has collected in puddles in drained pools, are a prime location, as is still swamp water. Even water that has collected in an abandoned tire can serve as place for mosquitoes to lay eggs.
Identification
Mosquitoes cannot lay eggs in well-maintained swimming pools, because the chlorine and other chemicals kill eggs. The filtration system in an actively used swimming pool also disposes of the eggs. However, deserted swimming pools are not maintained in the same manner. There are no chemicals to treat the ones that still have water, and rainwater can collect and stand still in an empty deserted pool, making them an inviting place for mosquitoes to deposit their eggs.
History
According to CBS Dallas/Fort Worth, the 2008 housing crisis had a direct effect on the growth of mosquitoes in Texas and other parts of the United States. Foreclosures forced people out of their homes, leaving houses and swimming pools vacant for a long period of time. Without the proper care, these pools became stagnant and a good place for mosquitoes to lay eggs.
Prevention/Solution
Deserted pools can be treated with Mosquito Dunks, according to the Rockland County Department of Health. They are larvicides that kill young mosquitoes in water before they become biting adults. You can buy Mosquito Dunks at nurseries, hardware stores and pet stores. The Dunks are generally harmless to humans and animals, although in some cases they can cause skin or eye irritation.
Warning
If mosquito populations are not controlled, the risk increases for West Nile virus. While most people will not be seriously affected by the disease, others are at risk of developing a serious case of the disease that is potentially fatal. By limiting breeding grounds in your area, such as deserted pools, you are also cutting down the risk of diseases like the West Nile virus.
Tags: swimming pools, Nile virus, place mosquitoes, their eggs, West Nile, West Nile virus, deserted pools