Discover These 7 Natural Predators of Mosquitoes: Your Allies in Mosquito Control
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are dangerous, they carry diseases like:
- Malaria
- Dengue Fever
- West Nile Virus
- Zika Virus
- Chikungunya
- Yellow Fever
- La Crosse Encephalitis
- Easter Equeine Encephalitis
- Jamestown Canyon Virus
Controlling these pests is vital to both your health and comfort. The most effective way is through specialized treatments, like those provided by Mosquito Shield. But there are things you can take to minimize the population around your home.
One of these is by introducing mosquitoes’ natural predators.
Goldfish
Fish: The Aquatic Hunters
If you have a pond on your property, adding fish goes a long way to keeping mosquito populations down. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water. As the eggs hatch and begin to grow, fish gobble down the larvae.
One fish, called the mosquito fish (the Gambusia affinis), is especially good at destroying mosquito populations. Here are other fish that prey on mosquito larvae:
- Goldfish
- Guppies
- Bass
- Bluegill
- Catfish
By adding these fish to ponds and other bodies, you can naturally reduce the mosquito larvae.
Swallow
Birds: Aerial Predators
Birds also feast on mosquitoes – both adults and larvae. Some species are particularly known for their diet of mosquitoes. These include:
- Purple Martins
- Swallows
- Waterfowl (geese, terns, ducks)
- Migratory Songbirds
Installing birdhouses and birdbaths helps attract these birds to help you reduce the mosquito population on your property.
Bats: Nighttime Guardians
While bats do prefer eating other insects, they do eat mosquitoes during their nighttime feedings.
Here are some things you can do to attract bats to your yard.
- Install bat houses
- Plant native, night-blooming flowers
- Provide sources of water
- Leave dead trees standing
- Don’t use pesticides
- Keep cats indoors
- Create diverse habitats
- Have patients
Dragonfly
Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Mosquito Hawks
Dragonflies are extremely good at hunting mosquitoes – adults and larvae. Have a swarm of dragonflies and watch the mosquitoes dwindle.
Damselflies go for the larvae in the water.
Frogs and Tadpoles: Amphibious Eaters
If you have water features, think about introducing amphibians like the spadefoot toad, green tree frog, and giant tree frog. These frogs eat mosquito larvae in their diet.
Turtles: The Unexpected Predators
How about a red-eared slider turtle? It’s known to feed on mosquito young as well.
Predacious Mosquitoes: The Cannibals
Did you know that some mosquito species prey on other mosquito species? These species target the young of other species, helping to reduce the future adult population.
Aquatic Beetles: Underwater Predators
Diving beetles and water scavenger beetles consume mosquitoes during the water stages of mosquito lives.
Spiderweb
Spiders: The Web Weavers
Spiders consume anything they catch in their webs.
Encouraging Natural Predators
When you want to get the best results in combating mosquitoes naturally, the following steps can help:
- Eliminate standing water: Reduce mosquito breeding sites by removing any standing water around your property – unused birdbaths, puddles, kiddie pools, etc.
- Create habitats: Add environments that attract predators such as frogs, fish, and dragonflies.
- Install birdhouses and birdbaths: Attract mosquito-eating birds to your area.
Conclusion
Natural predators can help keep mosquito populations at low levels, but they most likely won’t keep all pests away. Consider using control measures – like treatments specifically made to combat mosquitoes.
What steps will you take to encourage natural mosquito predators around your property?