As mosquitoes live in standing water, so if you have a pool and there are numerous mosquitoes there, the first thing that comes to your mind is to use chlorine to kill them. Because chlorine is a disinfectant used to kill bacteria, algae and other organisms and has potential to create lethal conditions for mosquito and larvae.
So if you are also a pool owner then only this information that chlorine can kill mosquitoes is not sufficient. You have to know the exact concentration to make it lethal for mosquitoes otherwise small amounts are only useless.
The Short Answer: It Depends on the Chlorine Level
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Normally pool owners add a little dose of chlorine like 1 and 3 ppm to disinfect the water, but at this normal level of chlorine mosquitoes can easily survive. So you have to keep the concentration relatively high to kill mosquito larvae.
Warning: Too much chlorine can become toxic for humans as well and cause irritation or any infection on the skin.
Scientific Research on Chlorine and Mosquito Larvae
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association published a study that explains results where a mosquito is exposed to household bleach. This bleach contains 5.25% sodium hypochlorite and it works effectively.
According to this research the suggested concentrations are:
- 1st-instar larvae: 16 ppm
- 2nd-instar larvae: 64 ppm
- 3rd- and 4th-instar larvae: 250 ppm
Useful Fact: You have to use more chlorine to kill older mosquitoes as compared to the younger one.
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Result of the Study:
As per the result of the study all larvae and old mosquitoes died after exposure to 250ppm which proves that chlorine toxicity entirely depends on its concentration.
Does Swimming Pool Chlorine Kill Mosquito Larvae?
In normal pool water the concentration of chlorine which is 3ppm is enough to kill mosquito larvae. This is proved by a study conducted on Aedes aegypti. In this study results showed 100 percent mortality of larvae and eggs.
Disclaimer: Do not use chlorine randomly to any water container, first identify the purpose and use the correct amount of it.
Why Are Mosquito Larvae So Resistant?
Reason 1: Mosquito larvae survive in the pool easily because they breathe in air and do not use water’s oxygen. As they are not using water as a source of breathing so water disinfectants do not work the same for them as they do for other aquatic organisms.
Reason 2: Their outer layer is so rigid and tough which protects them from the toxicity of water.
Reason 3: Mosquito larvae actively move on the edges or corners of the pool where chlorine concentration is quite low as compared to the center and depth of the pool.
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Does Chlorine Kill Mosquito Eggs Too?
Yes, chlorine can kill mosquitoes eggs as well a study where domestic bleach is used to kill mosquito eggs support this fact. In this chlorine concentration 215 ppm is used and as a result 100 present eggs died within 48 hours.
What About a Neglected or Green Pool?
If you leave your pool unchecked, green algae will cover the top of the water. This provides a perfect environment for larvae development and at this point chlorine level drop to zero.
So what is the solution, adding more chlorine will not fix it. You have to use shocking technique to kill all the harmfull bacteria and mosquito larvae.
Fact: After shocking it does not mean the pool is now crystal clear from mosquito larvae, as it is in restoration period so there is chance of some larvae and egg presence.
Does Pool Shocking Kill Larvae?
Yes, shocking will immediately raise the chlorine level of water very high like from 0 to 10ppm. This will definitely help to kill the mosquitoes and its larvae.
Disclaimer: Shocking is not a permanent solution, because after shocking chlorine level drop down to zero within a day.
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If Chlorine Doesn’t Fully Handle It, What Does?
1. Chlorine is not a reliable solution instead use circulation and filtration methods, because mosquito prefer stagnant water to live. Larvae also require stagnant water for development, circulation disturbs its development.
Suggestion: Invest in installing a pool pump and run it consistently.
2. Remove every container from pool nearby that can hold rainwater or any stagnant water.
3. Add Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), a bacteria which eat mosquito larvae and it is also harmless to humans and pets.
4. You can manually remove mosquito larvae by skimming.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does chlorine kill mosquito larvae? | yes |
| What chlorine level kills larvae? | Significantly above normal pool maintenance range |
| Can larvae survive in a maintained pool? | Yes |
| Does pool shocking help? | Yes |
| What is the most effective prevention? | Running pool pump for circulation |
| What kills larvae reliably in water? | Bti |
| Where do mosquitoes prefer to breed? | Stagnant water |
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