A small patch of mosquito larvae can be a turn nuisance in your backyard.
Mosquitoes are a part of the world that we must endure, even though certain strains can carry dangerous diseases such as the West Nile virus. But that doesn't mean we can't keep their numbers to a minimum. Though eradicating all mosquitoes from the world would be akin to keeping waves from forming on the ocean, there are a number of things you can do to prevent mosquito pupae from leaving the larval stage of life. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Keep water from pooling in as many places as possible to reduce the number of breeding grounds in your vicinity. These locations include kiddie pools, recycling bins, refuge like tires and cans, birdbaths and even clogged gutters. According to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, a few days time is all it takes for a colony to be laid and hatch into hundreds of blood-sucking bugs. (see Reference 1)
2. Change the water weekly in birdbaths, and clean and chlorinate your swimming pool sufficiently. Install an aerator or filter system in ponds or water gardens to keep water moving.
3. Inspect any ponds, ditches or other marshy areas nearby for stagnant water, the ground of choice for mosquitoes to plant larvae. Introduce larvae-eating fish like koi gambusia or shubunkins to the pond. See the Resources section for a selection of effective mosquito eaters.
4. Place a mosquito "dunk" in any permanent ponds every 30 days to prevent pupae from forming. These products are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and, generally, require one dunk per 100-square-feet of surface area. Follow the instructions from your manufacturer. According to the University of Kentucky Extension, approved larvicides are those that contain Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (in a puck) or methoprene (in granule form).
5. Investigate the area around all ponds and areas of standing water regularly, especially in warmer months. Remove and discard any larvae you find with a net.
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