mosquitoes

[batman46]

I am digging a small pond 15x27x2 for fun and my bees,what can I use to kill the mosquitoes in the water that will not hurt my wild bees?
the pond is about 10 feet from the 2 hives and I plan on traping them next year after I get some things to keep them in.

[mike haney]

goldfish work fine. good luck,mike

[NewbeeNnc]

If only honeybees would deter mosquitos or the varroa mite would flock to them instead. I guess we're stuck with the pests forever.

[NeonBee]

Adding some type of small fish may be your best option. I know here in the deep south the local irrigation canals are purposely stocked with fish for mosquito control. Goldfish, killfish, tadpoles, and guppies are well known for eating mosquito larvae. Koi are nice, but too big to consider eating mosquito larvae.

[BEES4U]

Gambusia can be used.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquitofish
The mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) is a species of freshwater fish, also commonly known simply by its generic name, gambusia, although such usage is ambiguous. It is sometimes called the western mosquitofish, to distinguish it from the eastern mosquitofish (G. holbrooki). It is a member of the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. The genus name 'gambusia' is derived from the Cuban Spanish term 'gambusino', meaning useless.[1][2]

These fish are native to the watershed of the Gulf of Mexico, where it has long been known that they feed readily on the aquatic larval and pupal stages of mosquitoes
Ernie

[Swobee]

Ditto on the fish. We've had yard ponds for years and never had mosquito problems. The Mosquito prefers still water with plants, etc. to lay their eggs in. Our plants are in pots and do not crowd along an edge. Maybe not overly natural in appearance, but still looks good. The fish can work their way around and take care of any larva and such that might show up. We have various fish- koi, goldfish, some I can't spell or pronounce - mutts one and all.

[chiggerbait]

Buy plenty of fish because the raccoon population will explode at your place.
Look guys "fish buffet".

[Hambone]

You might do some research on the Bt Powder that Sundance sells here. I have read before that it kills mosquito larvae.

[treeoflife]

Yes, BT donuts works very well, last a month before you have to replenish, and are harmless to everything but mosquitoes. I've used them in the past, and loved them.

[theriverhawk]

Yes, the mosquito fish is perfect for a small pond. Growing up, my parents always built small goldfish ponds somewhere in the yard of our houses. Mosquito fish were ALWAYS in the pond for this very reason. The bees did water in the ponds, too. Never had mosquito problems.

[treeoflife]

Just make sure any fish you buy and put in your ponds are legal in your state. Here in Maine, there's a huge penalty for stocking non-indigenous species. Even in private ponds. Just an FYI.