What are the best mosquito-controlling critters for a pond?
While inquiring about the rules for building a backyard pond, my city suggested I have a plan some way to control the mosquitoes. I'm aware that some fish, frogs, newts, and turtles all eat mosquitoes and their larvae. I doubt my slow, lumbering long-fin goldfish will help, so I want to introduce some other creature to the pond. Is there any particular species that are really the best at this?
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As far as I know, dragon-fly larvae feed with mosquito larvae, and dragon-fly adults feed with adult mosquitoes.
Now, where do you get the dragon-flies from, is another question, which I cannot answer. Also, I cannot tell if you enjoy seeing dragon-flies around. Personally, I am kind of fascinated by them, I would have no problem having them in my pond- especially if they control the mosquito population as well.
Any small fish except possibly goldfish/Koi. My Koi are confirmed vegetarians, never make any attempt to eat fish of any size. Guppies and gambusia are also called "mosquito fish" because of their appetite for larvae. I would prefer livebearers, anyone will do: swordtails, platys, mollies, whatever is on sale. These fish like warmer temperatures, but could be put in at 70 °F (21 °C) water temperature and would reproduce and eat larvae until the water temperature drops to about 50 °F (10 °C). They will tolerate this lower temperatures when living in a pond. Not nearly as interesting control of mosquitoes is adding Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) to the pond. It will kill any insects and not affect fish, amphibians, reptiles, or mammals.
White Cloud Mountain minnows are extremely effective at controlling mosquito larvae and are hardy too.
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