Do you have a body of water, on your property that you put anything in to keep mosquito larva out of?

Here is some background info and what we are doing about it:

We have 3 of our beehives at the same farm that I do the garden with. They have a swimming pool that is getting hounded by the bees because it is a large, cool place to hang out and get water.
We have tried putting different watering devices (small) in several locations but it hasn't kept them away.
So the idea is this, we put a kiddie pool, with things to keep them from drowning (rocks, sticks, etc) nearer to the hives to cut down on the #s that visit the big pool ( I don't think it will ever stop totally).

But, what can we put in it, that is totally natural, to keep them skeeters from laying eggs?

thanks for any help!!

How timely! I was just minutes ago reading up on beekeeping and found a link to a DIY bee pond. Honestly it was super easy.

Bee Watering Ponds (http://members.aol.com/glennapiar/beepond.html)

I bet you could go to a local pond and skim off some of the floating plant material for your own. If you don't want to go the route of a traditional pond form you can do an easy pond with a watering trough (the big black Reubbermaid ones). If you are willing to bring the fish in the house for the winter in a 10 gallon tank it won't mater what you use really.

Oh yeah, this is COOL!! Funny, my dh must think like you do cause he was saying, "umm, I think I could make a fountain pond out there with blah, blah, blah" .... now, I realize he isn't far off the mark! I was just looking for functional!LOL

Actually, we have a backyard waterfall/pond feature adn could use some of the flowering plants and lily pads there!!

thanks for jumpstarting us on our way to a beautiful honeybee water garden!!

I'm also wondering about Bat boxes. Can you make some to encourage lots of bats? They eat tons of mosquitoes.

I'm also wondering about Bat boxes. Can you make some to encourage lots of bats? They eat tons of mosquitoes.


ya know, we ordered a bat box about 3 years ago, put it in a location where the info recommended and have seen bats in our area eating bugs but nada. We have had no luck with them coming to live in our boxes. I wish though! Not to discourage you because a lot of people have success with having the boxes!!

My FIL built a bat box because they were sleeping in under their roof and making a mess. You can easily find planns online. I have been meaning to build one too for our garage. I know we have bats because you can see them at dusk and they are wonderful.

not quite the same, but we have a rain barrel in the backyard. One of our neighbors suggested putting goldfish in it to eat the mosquito larva.

We bought a few feeder goldfish at the pet store and they are growing fat and happy, and they are eating the mosquito larva. We give them a shake of fish food as backup about once a week, and as far as I know we've only lost one. (we started with 10)

not quite the same, but we have a rain barrel in the backyard. One of our neighbors suggested putting goldfish in it to eat the mosquito larva.

We bought a few feeder goldfish at the pet store and they are growing fat and happy, and they are eating the mosquito larva. We give them a shake of fish food as backup about once a week, and as far as I know we've only lost one. (we started with 10)

yes, we have a backyard pond with some cheapy goldfish in. We did lose some to birds that were attracted from the lake next door. It is right behind the hives. The bees think it is too easy to be bothered :rolleyes: That is the way of the bee!
We decided to do an old kiddie pool with rocks and things in it. We just go and splash more water in it, often to keep the larva out. It seems to be working ok for now.