Regularly chlorinate your swimming pool and maintain disinfection levels. Chlorine alone will not kill mosquito larvae but will help in maintaining the pool's health and, along with the other steps, hinder the growth of mosquito larvae.
Coat the Water with Oil
Any kind of oil here, such as olive oil or vegetable oil, will do. All you need is about a tablespoon per gallon of water. I know this sounds like a tiny amount, but all it takes to kill mosquitoes in standing water is a very thin layer of oil.
Mosquitoes in Pools
Mosquitoes develop in dirty, algae-filled water. If not maintained properly and regularly, a single 'green' swimming pool can produce up to 3 million mosquitoes in one month. Pools that produce mosquitoes are public health risks.
If you maintain your swimming pool with chlorine and a filter system, it is a very poor site for mosquitoes to breed. Most pools are too deep and have too much chlorine for mosquitoes to use. If you do not clean and maintain your pool, it can become a breeding area.
Tips to stop mosquito breeding in your swimming pool:
* Before & after using your pool, prevent mosquito breeding: - The pool cover should be secured so that mosquitoes cannot access the water underneath. - Water will accumulate on top of the cover and should be completely drained regularly, at least once a week.
Mosquito Life Cycle
Of these stages, the eggs, larvae, and pupae need water to develop, and stagnant water bodies are their preferred breeding grounds. If the mosquito eggs are laid in chlorinated water, such as a well-maintained swimming pool, the harsh conditions can be harmful to the eggs and the resulting larvae.
Mosquito Breeding and Disease
An unmaintained swimming pool can be the source of thousands of mosquitoes each week, increasing the risk of diseases carried by mosquitoes. To prevent mosquito breeding, it is very important to keep your swimming pool properly maintained at all times.
A Philadelphia dermatologist says that adding a capful of chlorine bleach to bathwater can discourage insect bites because bugs find the odor of chlorine offensive.
Chlorinate and disinfect
Although chlorine alone won't kill mosquito larvae, it will help maintain the pool's health and hinder larvae growth.
Apple cider vinegar is valuable for deterring and killing mosquitoes. If you have significant amounts of standing water on your property, you can add apple cider vinegar to it. The vinegar will repel future mosquitoes and kill any larvae living in the water.
Vinegar, particularly apple cider vinegar, has a strong scent that repels mosquitoes. Creating and spraying a vinegar solution or placing vinegar-soaked cotton balls around your outdoor area can help keep mosquitoes away.
Both apple cider vinegar and white vinegar are a good base for an insect repellent, as they deter flies and, combined with specific essential oils, will deter mosquitoes and ticks as well. Oils that have excellent repellent properties include geranium, lemongrass, citronella, rosemary and lavender.
We do not recommend putting essential oils directly in your swimming pool.
"Salt-based mosquito-control products are ineffective: Researchers find no evidence that salt-water ingestion kills mosquitoes." ScienceDaily.
Mosquitoes lay eggs near water. Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs. For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito. Fill tree holes to prevent them from filling with water.
Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, citronella, clove, peppermint, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass and rosemary. They also hate smells such as smoke, for further insight, see our exploration on, does smoke keep mosquitoes away?
Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents: cinnamon, peppermint, cedar, citronella, lemongrass, patchouli, catnip, lavender, and more. Find a favorite, and use it when you want to spend time outside.
I personally LOVE the smell of the original scent Pine-Sol. It smells so fresh and clean to me. Luckily, flies don't like the smell (mosquitoes don't either), which makes this a great DIY solution for getting rid of those bugs.
Mosquito Larvae's Food Source
Still, they don't eat humans or anything else that doesn't exist in the same water as them. Interestingly, some mosquito larvae feed on the larvae of other mosquito species. Well, it's a mosquito-eat-mosquito world out there! Therefore, it is entirely safe for humans.
Are Mosquito Dunks safe for swimming pools? Yes, Mosquito Dunks and the water treated with them are 100% safe for both humans and other living creatures including pets, fish, etc.
3. Citronella Grass (Lemon Grass) Known for its distinct smell, citronella grass (or lemon grass) is the most commonly used natural ingredient in mosquito repellants. In fact, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden recommends lemon-scented plants such as citronella grass to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Mosquito larvae are sometimes called "wrigglers," and pupae are called "tumblers." Mosquito larvae, like many insect larvae, live in the water. They have large heads with fuzzy thoraxes, and narrow, wormlike abdomens.
Availability of standing water is integral to these life stages and highly influential on the overall number of mosquitoes produced. Water allowed to “stand” for five days or more can become a potential mosquito-breeding site. Adult female mosquitoes produce eggs that are deposited in stagnant water to develop.