How to Get Rid of These Orange and Tan Bugs Flying & Crawling on My Pool

Identification

• Several varieties of aquatic bugs exist in the United States. Giant water bugs have a flat, broad, brownish-orange body; adults grow to sizes of 2 to 2½ inches in length. Their front legs resemble a praying mantis with a claw-like grasp. These vicious insects have a painful bite. Stoneflies have ¼-inch to 1½-inch soft, flat, brown to yellow bodies with veined wings. These water-loving bugs have long, tapered antennas. Dobsonflies are 2- to 4-inch-long pests with brown bodies that have multitoned tan markings. These flying insects have a soft body and white dots on their wings. Males and females have sickle-like jaws, with the male dobsonfly having a longer mandible.

Behavior

• Giant water bugs love lights. During mating season, adults fly around bodies of water such as swimming pools. Stoneflies typically occur around water and have an attraction to light. These insects are very poor flyers. Usually, stoneflies are active in warmer months; however, some come out in the late fall to early spring. Dobsonflies thrive near lights and have a wobbly flight pattern. They are active at night, and dobsonfly larva can swim and crawl.

Prevention

• Many aquatic insects have an attraction to mercury vapor lights, according to the Ohio State University Extension. Instead of using mercury vapor lights, use other types of pool lights. Placing the pool lighting farther from the pool and using a lower-wattage bulb help to keep bugs away. Regular pool maintenance such as filtration and chlorine treatments is an essential part of pool sanitation. A clean pool reduces the chances of slime or algae buildup, which insects like. Keeping grass and shrubs near the pool neatly trimmed lowers the risk of bug infestation.

Control

• Aquatic bugs need a water-based environment to live; without the ability to return to water, they die. Using a pool cover keeps bugs away from the water. Rarely do aquatic bugs require insecticide sprays, according to the Ohio State Extension. Avoid using insecticides and pesticides in the swimming pool; these only increase the possibility of harmful side effects for the pool’s users. A couple of hours before pool use, spraying pesticides on plants near the pool deters aquatic bugs for a time. Coating outside lights with Pyrethrin spray, a form of repellent that knocks flying bugs down, assists in the control of flying insects. Keeping a broom, dustpan and garbage bags handy to sweep up dead, stunned and dying bugs ensures a clean pool area.