mosquitoes in the lilly pond water!

[Lynn Coffelt]

Help! Last year we kept them out with some sort of egg hatching preventer. This year too late. (or too dumb) The small ponds (barrel halves) are full of live larvae. I think dumping oil on top will pretty much ruin the blooming lilies, so what to do? Immediately? Gotta kill 'em before the Nile Virus birds get here! Old Chief Lynn

[Hound Dog]

Get a few inexpensive goldfish (?) for each container.

[David Ross]

There are also small fish about the size of minnows that are called (for obvious reasons) "mosquito fish". For small containers, these might be more appropriate than goldfish.

[Snooze]

1. put mosquito dunks in the water, will kill the larva,
2. add a few mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) which you can get for free or a nominal price from the water utility or public health/vector control.

If you can't get mosquito fish, a few common guppies, the 10c kind. Don't bother with fancy guppies.

-S

[Suzy O]

Absolutely, get some cheapo goldfish to eat 'em. And, it's a most organic, earth-friendly solution!

Suzy O, Wisconsin, Zone 5

[Anthony A.]

Danios, an atractive little fish, will eat any isect foolish enough to land on the surface of their domain. Plus, they are damn fast, and make a stisfying splash as they take their prey. Local price? 3 bucks a pop.

[Anthony A.]

Danios, an atractive little fish, will eat any insect foolish enough to land on the surface of their domain. Plus, they are damn fast, and make a stisfying splash as they take their prey. Local price? 3 bucks a pop.