How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of a Bubbling Fountain

A bubbling fountain is a soothing, decorative feature for your lawn, patio or garden area. The movement of the water makes the fountain less likely to have a mosquito infestation than those with still water, but it still may be a problem. Keeping biting mosquitoes away from your outdoor areas requires using the correct methods to eliminate pests in your fountain and other areas that contain water.

Goldfish or other aquarium fish
Vegetable oil
Product containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis

Instructions

- 1
  Turn on your bubbling fountain and leave it on during seasons in which mosquitoes are present. If you decide to turn off your fountain for any reason, empty the water to prevent mosquito infestations.
- 2
  Purchase goldfish or other small aquarium fish that eat mosquito larvae and put them into your fountain. The bubbling fountain provides oxygen for the fish.
- 3
  Pour a small amount of vegetable oil -- such as 1 tbsp. or more, depending on the size of your fountain -- into the water. You only need enough to create a skim of oil across the water surface. A thin layer of oil prevents mosquito larvae from surviving.
- 4
  Purchase a product that contains the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. They are available online, at garden centers, hardware stores and wherever fountains are sold. The products are effective in eliminating mosquito larvae.
- 5
  Dump out the water in your fountain if you spot mosquito larvae. Clean the fountain according to the care manual and refill it with fresh water. Attempting to float the larvae out of the fountain by overflowing it wastes water, since many types of larvae swim to the bottom when the water moves.

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