![]() What Water Insects Can You Find in Ponds? 1) Mayfly Larvae Photo by Ian Alexander, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Here, we will cover insects that are found directly in freshwater ponds as well as those that live around ponds but are not necessarily in the water. While insects are often viewed as somehow undesirable, gross, or frightening, the reality is that there are millions of species of them, and their place toward the bottom of the food web means that they are relied on heavily by everything else – even us! Insects enable life as we know it, and are just as important in your pond as they are anywhere else. Some will feed on other insects (for example, dragonfly nymphs have been known to eat mosquito adults and larvae) others consume algae and parasites most can provide food for your fish, turtles, frogs, and so on and some, such as caddisflies, help break down dead and decaying matter that might otherwise build up. In addition to indicating water quality, aquatic insects also perform a variety of functions for your pond. ![]() This makes them exceptionally useful bio-indicators in freshwater ecosystems. ![]() For example, dragonflies are sensitive to pollution and therefore tend to be found in areas with good water quality, while leeches and mosquitoes are pollution tolerant, meaning that if they’re around, there’s a chance that your water needs some TLC.īiologists often catch aquatic insects in water to deduce how healthy that area is, while of course performing other tests such as measuring oxygen and nutrient levels. Public domain.Īquatic insects are an essential part of a balanced water ecosystem, and the ones that are present can tell you a great deal about your pond and how healthy or unhealthy it is. 1.1.9 9) Backswimmer Aquatic insects are highly beneficial to ponds, with their presence within a pond being a good indicator of ecosystem health. ![]()
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