To drastically reduce the ideal environments for mosquitoes to breed and live, SOLitude Lake Management, an industry leader in lake and pond management, fisheries management and related environmental services for the Eastern United States, recommends the following ecologically sustainable, preventative, and proactive measures to homeowners, landowners, homeowner’s associations, golf courses, and municipalities.
“After the wet season that much of the East Coast has experienced this winter and early spring, homeowners and community managers need to take extra care in eliminating or altering all environments that attract mosquitoes for breeding,” said David Beasley, Lead Fisheries Biologist with SOLitude Lake Management.
- Eliminate standing water in artificial containers such as flower pots and buckets. Small containers of stagnant water are the ideal breeding environment of the Asian Tiger Mosquito, which is the carrier of the West Nile virus among other diseases. With only a 200 yard flying radius, eliminating their preferred breeding environment can lower infestations in your area.
- In larger aquatic environments such as lakes, ponds and stormwater basins, circulate water with aeration. Mosquitoes breed in and prefer to live near warm, stagnant waterbodies. Circulation, though a submersed aerator or surface fountain, will help eliminate the environment that mosquitoes would consider for breeding.
- Stock fish that feed on mosquito larvae in lakes, ponds and stormwater basins. In addition to stocking mosquito fish or fathead minnows annually, there are many fish species that can be recommended by a fisheries professional for your specific state that will naturally feed on the mosquito larvae, and therefore reduce the number of surviving adult mosquitoes.
- Plant vegetation that attracts dragonflies. Dragonflies feed on mosquito larvae and also adults. Studies have shown that a single dragonfly can eat thirty to hundreds of mosquitoes a day. Pickerelweed, arrowhead, iris, rush, and sedges are some to consider adding in and around your lake or pond.
- Consider adding biological larvicides to lakes, ponds, and stormwater basins. If your mosquito management strategy is not making headway with natural methods, there are biological larvicides formulated from beneficial bacteria, specifically designed for the various habitats that the mosquito larvae inhabit. In order to be effective, these larvicides need to be applied anywhere from weekly to monthly, depending on conditions, during the course of spring and summer. As a result, natural methods like adding aeration and dragonfly-attracting vegetation, as well as stocking certain fish are typically preferred as a more sustainable solution.
Since 1998, SOLitude Lake Management has been committed to providing full service lake and pond management services that improve water quality, preserve natural resources, and reduce our environmental footprint. Our services include lake, pond and fisheries management programs, algae and aquatic weed control, installation of fountains and aeration systems, water quality testing and restoration, bathymetry, lake vegetation studies, habitat assessments and nuisance wildlife management. We are the second largest distributor of AquaMaster fountains and aerators internationally and in the U.S. Lake and pond management services are available throughout the Eastern United States. Fisheries management consulting and aquatic products are available nationwide. Learn more about SOLitude Lake Management and purchase products at www.solitudelakemanagement.com.
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