Water fleas, mosquitoes…How to get rid of insects around a swimming pool?

With summer temperatures and the sun that seems to be settling in France, the swimming season is well and truly underway. And if nothing seems to be able to disrupt your swimming, that was without counting on the presence of aquatic insects that gravitate around your swimming. Tiger mosquito, water bees or even water fleas… Many of them enjoy cooling off and quenching their thirst around your pool. Especially in case of extreme heat!

The question then arises: how to get rid of thesepool insects that swimor fly over your pool? Aboral gives you its valuable advice for keeping awaymosquitoes and other insectsand fully enjoying the pleasures of swimming!

Why are insects attracted to your swimming pool?

Besides the issue of cleaning and cleanliness, the presence ofmosquito larvae in your poolcan impact the comfort and health of swimmers. Indeed, in some cases, insect bites can cause itching, allergic reactions, or intolerances.

To better get rid of them, it is therefore advisable to understand what attracts them. Overview of what mosquitoes like around your swimming pool!

1. A place to drink water and cool off

Like us, aquatic insects invite themselves into your pool to cool off. For them, the pool is also a huge watering hole in which they can quench their thirst. Thanks to their long hind legs, some insects – like water bugs – are able to move on the surface of the water without drowning!

And since it is a constantly humid area, the pool also appears to be the ideal place to deposit and hatch their eggs. As a guide, female mosquitoes can lay up to 250 eggs on the surface of the water!

2. An area surrounded by fruit trees and shrubs

Is your pool surrounded by fruit trees, such as peach or cherry trees? If you're wondering why you have so many insects around your pool, look no further!

Insects – especially wasps – love to hang out around fruit trees because of the sugar they provide. The same goes for flower pots or pollinating shrubs.

3. A place prone to stagnant water

When rainwater stagnates in the garden, it is not uncommon to see the appearance of mosquito larvae. The same goes for your swimming pool! If you have an above-ground pool, without a filtration system, remember to empty it regularly and renew the water to avoid the appearance of mosquito larvae in your pool.

If your pool is well filtered, you can sleep soundly. There is little chance that an adult mosquito will deposit its larvae in a moving pool!

How to avoid insects in a swimming pool?

Cleaning the pool with a pool vacuum cleaner

Many insects can thrive in fresh or salt water, but they depend on the presence of nutrients, such as green algae. This is particularly the case with water bugs; these brown insects, which swim upside down, love them!

To getrid of green algaeand, consequently, of thepeststhat hover around your pool, one of the first pieces of advice is to dedicate time topool maintenance. To do this, you will need to vacuum your pool water daily to remove debris and particles that have accumulated there. Once the walls and bottom are clean, start the filtration system to vacuum and store the dirt.

Don't hesitate to ask yourpool professionalfor thebest pool vacuumsthat will meet your needs and budget.

Cover your pool with an anti-insect net

To prevent apool insect from swimming in your pool, install a pool cover or a poolmosquito netwhen you are not using it. This will prevent the appearance ofmosquito larvae in your poolin your absence.

And in addition to naturally preventing access by mosquitoes and other insects, this type of device, being perfectly watertight, will limit the deposit of dust or leaves. Indeed, water pollution is one of the factors that contributes to thedevelopment of algaein your pond and consequently, to the appearance of water fleas, tiger mosquitoes, and other aquatic insects.

Clean up the pool area

As we have seen, factors outside the pool can contribute to the proliferation of all kinds of insects. The presence of fruit trees and pollinating shrubs particularly attract wasps and bees.

To avoid the use ofwasp repellentsaround your pool, clean up your pool's environment. Start by picking your fruit and clearing your garden. Also, remove stagnant rainwater from the bottom of your flower pots.

Finally, know that there are plants reputed torepel insects around your pond. This is particularly true for geranium, lavender, mint, citronella, basil, and rosemary. Do not hesitate to plant them around your pool to limit the appearance of insects.

Use insect repellents

Less aggressive than mosquito traps and insecticides,insect repellentsare also very effective in combating mosquitoes. Made fromessential oils,these products produce an odor that mosquitoes and other insects cannot tolerate. On the market, you will find bothinsect repellentsin liquid and solid forms.

Protecting yourself and your home

If you live in a risk area, protect yourself frommosquito bitesby spraying yourself with mosquito repellent. Indoors, use a mosquito net and/or a mosquito diffuser. Other devices, such as mosquito repellent lamps, mosquito repellent bracelets, or even citronella essential oils, are particularly effective at repelling mosquitoes.

: Indeed, we must not forget that some flying insects can be disease vectors, such as the chikungunyaregion, the malaria, the dengue, and Zika virusIn addition to mild symptoms such as fever, body aches, or headaches, mosquito bites can have more significant impacts on pregnant women.

You will have understood; for these pairs of legs to stop invading your pool, you will need to ensure you maintainclean and healthy water. Subsequently, it's up to you to choose between apool coveror anatural mosquito repellent. It all depends on the number of insects buzzing around your pool! Finally, use skin repellents and anti-mosquito devices (mosquito net, mosquito repellent bracelet, citronella product) to ward off mosquitoes and combat insects.