Wildlife pond and mosquito larvae

[recsw]

I've just started a pond about 10 days ago. The plants are settling in nicely and enjoying the warmth. But it has dozens of tiny wriggly things that - according to Google - are mozzie larvae.

Does that matter? Is this just the settling in period, or am I going to have millions of mosquitos all summer unless I do something?

Absolutely normal and great for encouraging other wildlife into your garden. Definitely leave them be 😊

I have same with my ponds every year. Can't say we have ever had any problems with swarms of mosquitoes or bites.

It is a sink slightly out of the ground rather than sunk into the ground, if that makes a difference?

With gravel at the bottom, oxygenating plants, broken bricks piled up at one end for beasties to get out/paddle, and sort of ramp of wood so they can get in from the ground outside.

The birds seem to like drinking from it!

@recsw ooh! I'd love to see a pic if possible? I have a half buried Belfast sink in the garden that I've been wanting to make a tiny pond with for a while! X

It's a bit blurry, I have a battered old phone so the the camera isn't very good!

It's a little solar fountain

Looks great. Must admit, I'd try to scoop out some of the mosquito larvae with a sieve to have less mosquitoes

Apparently if you grow reeds or irises you can get dragon fly larvae which then eat all the mosquitoes etc.

I've heard that putting a small drop or two of washing up liquid gently on the water surface can help. It breaks the surface tension that allows the larvae to breathe, but should be too dilute to pollute the water. Have a Google before proceeding. If you've got other creepy crawlies that rely on surface tension, pond skaters, etc. don't bother. And not too much with the fountain or you'll get sudsy. I think vegetable oil can also work but that makes a barrier they can't breathe through, again you don't need much, just a drop. It will settle down as predatory insects turn up. I think it looks lovely, what a clever idea. Is the ramp for frogs? They'll fettle your mozzies.

I wouldn't do anything at all, except remove the fountain thing as pond wildlife prefer still water.

I like the sound of the water when I'm sitting out there, but could take it out for the rest of the time