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Too early to collect inverts?


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#1 Guest_wispfox_*

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Posted 09 April 2014 - 10:17 AM

I'm thinking that I need to collect dragonfly/damselfly larvae and backswimmers (at minimum) to help keep the water in my pond free of mosquitoes.

I'm temporarily leaving it free of fish (but intend to see about finding some toad or green frog eggs; I have one green frog tadpole, but I lost my frogs over the winter along with my previous fish) in order to allow what was probably ich to die off.

I've dropped by a couple of ponds near me (one in Waltham and one in Lincoln), and saw no obvious backswimmers or aforementioned predacious larvae, and was wondering if I was looking at the wrong time or something? (Did catch a water boatman, though, earlier today)

It was during the day, and there were peeper's going. No idea if the timing of year or time of day was a problem, and it's not like I'm all that accustomed to attempting to catch them anyway!

I do appear to have a water strider in my pond as of yesterday (always cool!), but that's less helpful for the mosquito larvae.

Thoughts? Suggestions? I'm using a net I got from a fish store (because I had it around), as I figure these are big enough for that to work alright.

#2 Guest_ThomasDodson_*

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Posted 09 April 2014 - 10:55 AM

Dragonfly and damselfly larvae overwinter so you should find them. They may still be too sluggish but they will become more active soon. Use your net and jab/pull up at overhanging vegetation for most species. Gomphus larvae can be found in bottom sediments if you want to sift.

#3 Guest_Subrosa_*

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Posted 09 April 2014 - 01:10 PM

They're there. Whether it's warm enough for you to go in and get them is a personal decision.

#4 Guest_wispfox_*

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Posted 09 April 2014 - 03:59 PM

Use your net and jab/pull up at overhanging vegetation for most species. Gomphus larvae can be found in bottom sediments if you want to sift.


Ah! Thank you. I had forgotten that when I've accidentally pulled out the larvae, they were on hanging plants. And the sediments is also good to know.

#5 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 09:48 PM

Larvae of most of the flying insects will appear "spontaneously" in your pond in a few more weeks. For mosquito control in your [our] area, banded sunfish, E. obesus, is the best bet. You can find them dragging a dip net through shore line leaves and weeds in swampy ponds in your area. PM if you want some locations although they are common.

#6 Guest_wispfox_*

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Posted 02 May 2014 - 07:28 PM

For mosquito control in your [our] area, banded sunfish, E. obesus, is the best bet. You can find them dragging a dip net through shore line leaves and weeds in swampy ponds in your area. PM if you want some locations although they are common.


I'm guess it's still too cold or something, as a number of places that I tried earlier today had no luck. Or, I could just not know what I'm doing. ;)

(Mystic Lake, Hardy Pond, a calm place on the Charles)

#7 Michael Wolfe

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Posted 03 May 2014 - 07:28 PM

must be a latitude problem... here in the south, this guy is making the metamorphosis from nasty fish eater to helpful mosquito eater!
Attached File  IMG_0094.JPG   164.35KB   1 downloads
Full disclosure, I did not catch this amazing moment, it was a friend of mine that saw this while out on a streamside walk the other day.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#8 Guest_wispfox_*

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Posted 03 May 2014 - 08:35 PM

Wow, very cool!

Actually, I found some damselfly larvae the other day, but no banded sunnies.

Of course, the temp in my pond - let alone deeper places, is still around 50F. Ridiculous spring this year...




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