I was thinking of getting a rain barrell, my family says it will attract mosquits. Has anyone had an issue?

Question

Rain Barrell

Answer 1

I have a rain Barrel...

I often scoop water out from the top of it to water my plants - thus scooping out any mosquito larva...

I dont find it attracts mosquitoes - it has a small surface area and they want bigger usually...

there are lots of things you can plant to keep mosquitoes away - Citronella and Marigolds to name a few....

Answer 2

If you keep the barrel covered, which it should be to keep out other debris, and if you use the water in the barrel you should not have a problem. I love it.

Answer 3

if possible keep covered untill it rains or calls for rain , keeps mosquitoes out that way , or make a cover with a hole just big enough for the drain pipe to fit through

Answer 4

The screen idea or you could put some olive oil into the barrel as the larva can't breathe when there is a layer of oil at the top of the water, so they die. Good luck

Answer 5

Many commercial barrels (mine from Spruce Creek) come with screens that are fairly effective.

Clean out the barrel a few times in season. There are mosquito dunks/bits, like those for ponds and pools, you could add to kill them (a form of Bt). More likely your mosquitoes will come from plant pot saucers, gutters, anything that holds water. Our city offers rainbarrels at a discount. Check with your city.

Answer 6

A fish could eat the mosquitos.  You might also want to put in a little crushed lime to neutralize the acid.

Answer 7

tightly covered (they get in through the tinyest hole) or open topped with a couple of little goldfish. i have tried both. the goldfish stay clear of the outlet while the water is going out, they can feel the current. they prefer a bit of weed to hide in or they get nervous.

Answer 8

Well the main purpose of you getting a rain barrel I believe is to store and collect water. It's true that it could attract mosquitoes to lay their eggs in so a good method would be to buy those bug nets(the nets which are insect tight with small holes). The mosquitoes or any other insects would not be able to go through and the rain water would still be able to flow through.

I haven't tried using a rain barrell, but there used to be a pond in my house and it attracted the mosquitoes. I could see a few worms moving around in the water, and it was totally disgusting, so I suggest you get a net to prevent the bugs from going in.

Answer 9

I have 7 rain barrels for my large garden.  They help a lot.  You can buy some that are covered already, or some that come with a screen on top.  I just buy the blue  barrels and make tops for them out of wood and screen.

Answer 10

If it is properly constructed with a screen over the opening, then it shouldn't be a problem.