Mosquitoes are not attracted to a clean pool. But on the other hand, swimming pools can quickly become mosquito breeding grounds if they are not properly maintained, causing a nuisance for you and your neighbors. 

Mosquitoes are an annoyance that makes you itch just thinking about them! When mosquitos infiltrate your pool and patio area, they can make a fun time in your backyard less enjoyable for you, your family, and guests. As the temperature outside rises, so does mosquito activity. In addition, warm weather encourages these insects to lay more eggs, hatching more quickly.

A female can produce up to 300 eggs at once and up to 3,000 eggs in her lifetime. Mosquitoes complete all four lifecycle stages in about a week: egg, larvae, pupa, and flying adult.

Why do mosquitoes bite?

Female mosquito bites pierce your skin and induce those irritating red bumps. The sweat and heat from our bodies and the carbon dioxide from our breath attract them.

Mosquitoes require the fresh blood of another creature to nurture and lay their eggs. Therefore, the females search for nearby people and animals to feed on to accomplish this. (The males do not bite; they feed on flower nectar.)

Mosquitoes’ attraction to bodies of water

time lapse photography of blue body of water

Mosquitoes can only lay their eggs in stagnant or slow-moving water after mating. Therefore, the water must be calm enough for the mosquitoes to land and lay their floating egg clusters across the surface.

This type of mosquito-friendly water can be found in ponds, puddles, and various discarded or hidden receptacles such as empty cans, gutters, storm drains, and buckets.

Mosquitoes, on the other hand, will not be attracted to your well-maintained swimming pool. Running a pool pump for a few hours daily creates adequate water circulation, preventing a mosquito landing strip from forming on the pool surface.

If a mosquito manages to lay a batch of eggs in your pool or spa, don’t worry: they won’t hatch. Combining chlorine and other pool sanitizing methods will kill them long before they reach maturity and develop into larvae.

Mosquito-borne pathogens

Some mosquitoes bite. Worse, some spread parasites and diseases that they scoop up from an infected animal or human.

Viruses and diseases that mosquitoes transmit from person to person or animal to person include Yellow Fever, Zika, West Nile, malaria, and encephalitis.

You can avoid dangerous microorganisms and potential illnesses by taking precautions to reduce the number of mosquitos around your pool and backyard.

How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of the Pool

Here are some mosquito-repelling strategies:

Remove the Food Source

Examine your pool’s surroundings to see if any source acts as a food source for mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes prefer overgrown vegetation and organic debris as food sources. So make sure you get rid of them.

Check if they seek shade from the sun and take action as they cannot stay in the hot sun.

Check if any plants in the pool area are standing in still water. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most common causes of mosquito breeding.

Run the filter regularly

A timer can enable the filter to run for 3-4 hours per day. To prevent clogs, they may need to be cleaned.

Do not turn off the filter during the winter or when the pool is not in use.

Maintaining the pool during these times will take far less time, effort, and money to properly adjust the pool water for subsequent use.

When not in use, such as at night, cover the swimming pool to prevent chemicals from evaporating and bugs from entering.

You can set a timer to activate an automatic cover. During rainy seasons, make sure that any water found ponding on the cover’s surface is removed.

Maintain your swimming pool’s disinfection levels by chlorinating it regularly.

Chlorine alone will not kill mosquito larvae, but it will aid in the maintenance of the pool’s health and, in conjunction with the other steps, will inhibit the growth of mosquito larvae.

Remove any surface debris with a skimmer.

This tool will also improve your swimming experience by eliminating the need to avoid dead leaves or fallen branches.

Make a cleaning schedule.

Contract with a professional company or keep the brushes and equipment on hand. The pool should be cleaned regularly, including vacuuming and scrubbing the walls. Backwashing should be done at least once a week.

Set up mosquito traps

A mosquito trap can attract many mosquitos over a large area.

Always have a supply of citronella candles on hand

Citronella is a mosquito repellent that is naturally occurring. Additional protection can be provided by placing several candles around the swimming area in areas that are difficult to reach for children and pets.

Remove any standing water.

Mosquitoes love stagnant or old water. So before putting away the kids’ pool toys or rafts, drain the water out of them and let them dry in the sun. Also, look around the outside of your house for any water that may have accumulated after a rainstorm. These mosquito breeding grounds must be addressed as soon as they are discovered.

Keep track of the time.

Mosquitoes seem to prefer “feeding” at times of day when they are least exposed to the sun. So while you won’t need sunscreen to swim at dusk or dawn, you will need to protect yourself from mosquitoes.

Fill Tree Holes

Are there any old, gnarled trees on your property? A variety of animals and insects make their homes in trees with holes. However, mosquitoes may lay their eggs if your tree hole contains water.

Fill the tree with expanding foam insulation to solve the problem without killing it. The foam will fill the hole without putting additional strain on the tree trunk. Any excess foam that comes out of the hole can be cut off. Expanding foam can even be sanded and painted to match or blend in with the rest of the room’s decor.

Note: Only fill in a tree hole after ensuring it can hold water. Birds and other wildlife can use tree holes that don’t hold water as homes and nesting sites.

Maintain Proper Pool Chemistry

man in black and white stripe shirt standing on swimming pool during daytime

Mosquitoes won’t be able to live in your pool if it’s full of clean, balanced water that’s turned over every day by your pump. Maintain your pool by cleaning the filter and skimmer regularly. Make a pool maintenance schedule and stick to it to keep your pool clean, clear, and pest-free.

Use a Fan

Mosquitoes will avoid the wind, whether you can mount a fan above your pool or use a box fan when you’re outside. But, of course, when you’re in the pool, who needs nice hair anyway?

Keep Light on at Night

Mosquitoes, like other insects, are attracted to light when it gets dark. So if you like to take a nighttime dip in the pool, keeping tiki torches or a yard light lit about 20 feet away is a good idea. If the yard or house light is near a door, be cautious—you don’t want them sneaking in behind you.

The Neighbor’s Pool is a Breeding Ground

Unfortunately, some of you may have a next-door neighbor who neglects their pool. You might also live near a house where no one lives. Your neighbor’s pool has become an eyesore and a significant problem for whatever reason – they’re on vacation, the kids have left home, or they don’t have the time or money to maintain it.

When pools aren’t kept clean and filtered, they can quickly become a mosquito breeding ground. Mosquito larvae love algae-filled pools and fallen tree leaves, and the egg-laying mosquito knows this fact.

Did you know that a single unattended pool can produce MILLIONS of mosquitos? They will bite you and your neighbors once they are fully grown.

Does chlorine keep mosquitoes away?

Chlorine alone will not kill mosquito larvae, but it will aid in the maintenance of the pool’s health and, in conjunction with the other procedures, will inhibit the growth of mosquito larvae.

Mosquito Traps Chlorine Keep Your Pool Mosquito Free

All season long, correct use of swimming pool chemicals and proper management of the filtration, disinfection, and recirculation systems will keep your pool clean, safe, and healthy.

While chlorine has long been the industry standard and most widely used swimming pool disinfectant, consumer demand for alternative options has led to the development of new technologies, and the number of systems in use continues to rise.

Uses Nature2 to disinfect and prevent algae by dissolving traces of silver and copper in the water. The EPA-approved system allows pools to work with only 0.5 parts per million of chlorine instead of the recommended 1 to 4 ppm for standard pools.

How to Get Rid of the Bitey Buggers

Once you’ve eliminated mosquito breeding grounds on your property, it’s time to eradicate the bloodsuckers. Only adult female mosquitoes suck blood but need males to reproduce, so we’ll help you eliminate mosquitoes at all stages of their life cycle.

Larvicides

Pesticides kill insects at different stages of development. For example, mosquito larvae and pupae are killed by larvicides. They are available in various forms, including granules, liquid, pellets, tablets, and briquettes, but all are used in the same way.

The larvicide is applied to water in areas where bug babies are likely to be found, such as gutters, septic tanks, pool covers, and non-chlorine swimming pools or wading pools. The EPA registers larvicides and keeps records on their safe use around pets, people, and the environment.

Adulticides

Adulticides kill fully grown mosquitos (the ones that bite). They are available in various forms, including sprays, foggers, aerosols, and coils. Some of them are also suitable for use indoors.

Choose products that are designed for outdoor use in your pool area. Pay close attention to moist, dark areas where mosquitos congregate. You should also avoid spraying adulticide near fruit trees, vegetable gardens, or flowering plants that attract pollinators like butterflies and bees.

Home Mosquito Fogger/Misters

Want to get rid of adult insects on your property without hiring a professional or spraying by hand all the time? Look into mosquito foggers. For small areas, consider using low-cost hanging lanterns that spray a pesticide mist for small areas.

Try installing a full system with a reservoir unit that delivers pesticide via tubing to misters around your property to get more coverage over a larger area. While these systems are convenient, there are a few things you should think about before purchasing.

  • The EPA may not regulate the pesticides used in misters, but they are in some states. Check the regulations for the pesticide you intend to use in your state.
  • Even though the pesticides have been evaluated for safety, mist travels could get on pets, people, and plants and be inhaled inadvertently. “No pesticide should be viewed as 100 percent risk-free,” the EPA warns.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter, and use pesticides cautiously.

Natural Predators

You may be wondering about more natural ways to combat mosquitoes now that you’ve seen the recommendations and some warnings about pesticide application. One method for getting rid of pest insects is introducing some of their natural predators into the environment they’ve infiltrated—in this case, your yard.

Bats, dragonflies, and mosquito fish are three of the most effective mosquito killers. But how effective will they be in your fight against bloodsuckers?

Dragonflies

These flying insects are mosquito-eating monsters that are both beautiful and harmless. Lure them to your yard by constructing a predator-free pond with tall plants like cattails or reeds.

Some dragonflies lay their eggs in the stems of water plants, while others lay their eggs in the water. You don’t even need a large pond to attract them. It is sufficient to have a simple water feature in a small garden.

Mosquito dunks, a mosquito larvicide, can also be used to prevent mosquito breeding in your pond while not harming honey bees, dragonflies, or other pond critters. 

Mosquito Fish

Have you ever heard of these guys? They’re a great natural predator in your garden water or pond features. Because controlling mosquitoes on your property benefits everyone, some vector control organizations will even supply them to you for free.

Mosquitofish (also known as Gambusia affinis or just Gambusia) are such nasty little larvae eaters that they can cause havoc if released into the wrong environment, so they’re regulated in some places. Ensure that having them in your pond is legal in your state.

Bats

Insectivores are animals that feed primarily on insects, including some bats species. Their primary food sources are moths, wasps, beetles, and, to a lesser extent, mosquitoes.

While not as effective against mosquitoes as other predators, insectivorous bats can help keep your pool and yard area free of several other pests.

To be clear, we do not recommend actively trying to attract bats to your yard. Some dangerous diseases, like histoplasmosis and rabies, are carried and transmitted by bats.

If bats are already on or near your property, we recommend that you leave them alone and let them do their thing rather than trying to get rid of them.

Because they are nocturnal, they will be active when you are less likely to be in your pool. When they’re out and about, they aim to eat bugs while staying as far away from people as possible.

Leave them alone, and they’ll leave you alone—while eating about half their weight in insects every night.

One Final Tip

Mosquitoes are attracted to specific smells, chemicals, and hormonal changes. Carbon dioxide is a major attraction for mosquitos.

Hold your breath if you don’t want to be bitten. Or, at the very least, try not to breathe as heavily as the person next to you. I’m kidding!

Stick to EPA-registered repellents, build environmental barriers, and welcome natural mosquito predators into your yard. Then, you and your family will be a little safer from mosquito-borne diseases.