Water source & mosquito larva

YpsiBee2015 · July 16, 2015, 03:37:43 PM

My little water source (a 16" water saucer with stones in it) has had some mosquito larva growing in it. I let it dry out a day by accident and that killed off most, but I was wondering if there are Jon-toxic ways to keep them away... I've heard of a bit of apple cider vinegar added to dog bowls and chicken waterers, but I'm not sure if that's bad for bees...

Any ideas?

Candiebears · July 16, 2015, 03:54:43 PM

Quote from: YpsiBee2015 on July 16, 2015, 03:37:43 PM
My little water source (a 16" water saucer with stones in it) has had some mosquito larva growing in it. I let it dry out a day by accident and that killed off most, but I was wondering if there are Jon-toxic ways to keep them away... I've heard of a bit of apple cider vinegar added to dog bowls and chicken waterers, but I'm not sure if that's bad for bees...

Any ideas?

I've heard make a small still water pond, like with the containers from Tractor supply and add a gold fish?

YpsiBee2015 · July 16, 2015, 03:58:49 PM

That's kinda interesting. Although then I've got more 'mouths to feed' and take care of...and get through the winter. 50000 bees, 1 cat, 1 hedgehog, 1 fianc?e....

KeyLargoBees · July 16, 2015, 10:45:26 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquitofish

Mosquito fish...they give them away here in Florida if you call the mosquito control people....or you can buy some at Liveaquaria.com.....they are related to guppies though so I imagine a few guppies would do well too since they can live in dirtier water than goldfish.

but I see you are up in the great white north.....so they wont last the winter.

Michael Bush · July 16, 2015, 11:34:49 PM

The Bt dunks work. Goldfish work. I just dump the bucket once a week and refill...

biggraham610 · July 17, 2015, 01:55:00 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on July 16, 2015, 11:34:49 PM
I just dump the bucket once a week and refill...

Surefire answer......

Colobee · July 17, 2015, 03:09:31 AM

I have a 5 gallon dog water bowl filled with lava rock and some wood bits. The bees were pretty much ignoring it until last week. I moved it while making space for some splits. I put it on top of some inverted 3 gallon black plastic shrub pots. ~5' over, and 3' up, and they are now mobbing it. The rims of the plastic pots catch the overflow, and the bees also like that. Goofy bees!

No mosquito problems - the water bowl is pretty small, and mostly full of rock, and get's a little gush of fresh water a couple times an hour.

Dallasbeek · July 20, 2015, 07:32:06 PM

How's the dog like sharing?

Colobee · July 23, 2015, 09:51:10 PM

The bees have taken over. The dogs run away when they see me suited up. The bees are winning that battle.

BeeMaster2 · July 24, 2015, 01:04:24 PM

I have a large bird bath that I was always having to flush or add chlorine to keep the mosquitoes from breeding. last year I added 3 gold fish. 2 of them are still in there and no mosquitoes. Works great. They also keep the algae down to a minimum.
Jim

Sweet Comb · July 28, 2015, 12:29:58 AM

My hive is on a wetland/forest edge. Mosquitoes thrive here. Can someone please tell me what the concern is with the larvae? Thank-you.

Dallasbeek · July 28, 2015, 12:39:50 AM

They grow into adult mosquitoes and spread diseases? Was that and answer to your question? If your spray mineral oil on ponds, the larvae die. That prevents the spread of diseases.

I may have misunderstood your question. If so, please clarify.

Sweet Comb · July 28, 2015, 12:52:59 AM

Wetlands are protected here by so many government agencies. They would never allow that and it wouldn't only kill off the mosquito larvae. Specifically to the honeybee, what is the mosquito larvae concern in their drinking water?

Colobee · July 28, 2015, 08:10:59 AM

The only connection is that providing water for bees, which they must have, also often provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The bees could care less. The beekeepers tend to dislike mosquito bites.

Sweet Comb · July 28, 2015, 10:46:41 AM

Thanks Colobee :)

KeyLargoBees · July 28, 2015, 11:45:16 AM

The whole point of the thread is man made containers....if your bees are getting water from natural sources then so be it and no steps needed to prevent mosquitoes :-)

Ghost · July 31, 2015, 05:52:45 PM

I use a 5 gallon pail with little styrofoam peanuts as floaters.
I bought a solar powered aerator off eBay and it keeps te mosquitoes down.

Joe D · August 01, 2015, 12:26:37 AM

I use 5 gal buckets, filled about half full. I cut a piece of Styrofoam a little smaller than the inside of the bucket for the bees to land on. I only fill about half way to help keep Styrofoam from being blown out by wind and I place a 2 inch PVC fitting on it also as added weight. try to clean and refill every other week.

Joe

Eric Bosworth · August 01, 2015, 08:19:01 AM

I have a stream that flows about 50 yards from my hives. But this summer has been so wet I have a drainage ditch about 5 feet from my hives that has been their water source. I would love to keep biting insects out of it but I don't have much I can do about it.

GSF · August 01, 2015, 08:00:55 PM

I have some 4 foot old satellite dishes. I originally got them for the birds. The birds love them because they gradually get deeper, the bees love them.., just because.

I think I've heard folks say, "The nastier the water source the more the bees seem to like it."