What could be scarier than an infestation of common pool bugs? We all might agree that a bug-infested pool can be quite a nasty sight and not something that makes for an inviting swimming experience.
As a pool owner, few things are more annoying than lifting up the pool cover and finding the water teeming with creepy crawling water bugs While a few water bugs here and there may seem harmless, an infestation can quickly take over and ruin the swimming experience.
Not only are water bugs an eyesore but some species bite, while others can spread disease. That’s why it’s crucial to get rid of water bugs and keep them out of your pool for good. The key is understanding what attracts water bugs in the first place, and then taking steps to eliminate those conditions.
What Attracts Water Bugs to Pools
Water bugs love pools because they provide ideal breeding conditions and a buffet of food options. Here’s what brings water bugs swarming to your pool:
Standing Water
Pools provide miles of shoreline and endless standing water where water bugs can lay their eggs. Female water bugs may deposit hundreds of eggs that hatch into nymphs and grow into adults that continue the cycle.
Food Supply
Water bugs eat algae, bacteria, and other microorganisms that live in pool water. Decaying leaves, dust, and other organic debris that accumulate in the pool also provide a food source.
Places to Hide
The nooks and crannies around steps, ladders, filters, jets and other pool features give water bugs plenty of places to hide and breed.
Lights
Many water bugs are drawn to lights and will gravitate to a brightly lit pool at night. Pool lights attract bugs, which in turn lures predators to feed on them.
Nearby Habitats
If your pool is located near a pond, stream, or other water source, water bugs can easily migrate and colonize your pool.
4 Common Water Bugs in Pools
To get rid of water bugs, you first need to identify what type has invaded your pool. Here are 4 usual suspects:
Water Boatmen
These oval-shaped bugs are about 1/4 inch long. As their name suggests, they zip around the pool surface like miniature speed boats. While annoying, they don’t bite and primarily feed on algae and mosquito larvae.
Backswimmers
Slightly larger than water boatmen at 1/2 inch, backswimmers do bite humans. They get their name because they swim upside down on their backs. Predatory by nature, they feed on small fish, tadpoles and water boatmen.
Giant Water Bugs
Growing up to 4 inches long, these ominous-looking insects deliver a painful bite. They ambush small fish, frogs and aquatic insects, piercing their prey with sharp front leg pincers.
Water Striders
Similar to water skaters, these long-legged bugs skate across the water’s surface where they feed on algae, dead insects and organic debris. Despite their small size, they can occur in enormous numbers.
3 Steps to Get Rid of Water Bugs
Getting rid of water bugs requires attacking the problem from multiple angles:
1. Remove Their Food Source
Starve water bugs out by eliminating the algae, bacteria and gunk they feed on:
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Shock treat the pool water with chlorine to kill algae.
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Brush pool walls and floor to remove bacterial colonies.
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Vacuum the pool daily to suck up debris and microorganisms.
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Add algaecide to prevent new algae growth.
2. Make Your Pool Less Inviting
Without food, water bugs will look elsewhere if your pool seems inhospitable:
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Install a pool cover when not in use to block access.
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Turn off pool lights at night when bugs are most active.
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Consider installing a screened enclosure around your pool.
3. Maintain Proper Water Chemistry
Test and adjust chemicals regularly to keep water uninhabitable for bugs:
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Check chlorine and pH weekly and adjust as needed.
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Shock treat water 1-2 times per week.
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Add algaecide according to package directions.
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Run pumps and filters 24 hours a day until infestation clears.
3 Natural Ways to Deter Water Bugs
In addition to proper pool maintenance, some old-fashioned home remedies can help repel water bugs:
1. Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkle this powder made from fossilized algae around the pool perimeter. The sharp edges damage the waxy coating on water bugs’ exoskeletons, causing dehydration.
2. Garlic Spray
Puree garlic cloves with water and strain. Pour the garlic juice into a spray bottle and mist around the pool edge where bugs congregate. The pungent odor drives them away.
3. Grapefruit Peels
Scatter dried grapefruit peels around the pool deck. Citric acid in the peels irritates sensitive water bug antennae and repels them.
Prevent Water Bugs from Returning
Once you evict water bugs from your pool, take precautions to ensure they don’t come back:
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Inspect weekly for signs of new algae growth.
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Test water 2-3 times per week for proper chlorine and pH.
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Brush pool walls and vacuum the floor daily to remove biofilms.
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Continue 24-hour filtration until the infestation is fully resolved.
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Consider installing an electronic bug zapper near the pool.
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Pour boiling water down deck and skimmer drains to kill bug eggs.
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Seal cracks and crevices around the pool perimeter.
When to Call a Pool Professional
For severe water bug infestations, calling a pool pro may be your fastest solution. They have specialized tools and algaecides more powerful than what’s available to homeowners. Pool pros can also diagnose underlying issues, like cracks that allow bugs to enter from underground.
While water bugs will likely appear in most backyard pools from time to time, a vigilant maintenance routine can help prevent them from taking over. Pay close attention to your pool on a daily basis and at the first sign of bugs, take quick action to kick them out for good.
Types of Pool Bugs
The most common swimming pool bug types are:
1. Backswimmers
These bugs prefer the swimming pool habitat because they can easily access their food source, including mosquito larvae and other insects.
2. Water Boatman
These bugs are characterized by their long slender bodies and flat, triangular-shaped heads. They usually attach themselves to the sides of swimming pools. Small fish or frogs prey on these bugs. They can also be found in pipes, water tanks, and fish ponds.
3. Caddisfly Larva
A caddisfly is a small fly that lives underwater, mainly in shallow areas like lakeshores, riverbanks, or ponds. Adult caddisfly is generally harmless but can harbor harmful parasites that may affect people and animals.
4. Thrips
The swimming pool isn’t the primary habitat of thrips, but they can find their way there to search for food. There are three variants of these bugs: the greenhouse thrip, western flower thrips, and onion thrips. The greenhouse thrips feed on plant leaves and flowers as well as pollen. Western flower thrips attack roses, chrysanthemum, gladiolus, and other flowers for nectar. Onion thrips feed on onion bulb scales.
5. Water Bugs
Water bugs live in or near water but are rarely found inside swimming pools. They are usually found near the poolside but don’t consider them a pool pest.
How To Get Rid Of WATER BUGS In Your POOL
FAQ
How do I get rid of waterbugs in my pool?
- Step 1: Skim and Vacuum Visible Bugs Out Of Your Pool. Using a pool skimmer, remove visible bugs from the pool. …
- Step 2: Use an Algaecide. As you would weekly to clean the pool, apply calcium hypochlorite to kill any algae left in the pool that would attract waterbugs. …
- Step 3: Spray Supreme IT.
Where do water bugs in your pool come from?
These bugs are typically attracted to a pool because it provides a food source. Big and small water bugs alike are drawn to pools because that’s where their food source is. White algae in the pool is a primary food source for aquatic insects and is often found in backyard pools.
What kills water bugs instantly?
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- Boric acid is a natural substance that acts as a stomach poison for water bugs.
- Sprinkle boric acid around areas where you’ve seen water bugs or where they might enter your home, such as windowsills and doorways.
- You can also create a bait trap by placing a small dish with sugary food (like sugar or honey) and sprinkling boric acid around the bait.
- Boric acid is a natural substance that acts as a stomach poison for water bugs.
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Baking Soda and Sugar:
- Mix equal parts of baking soda with sugar or a sugar substance and place it in a small dish where cockroaches hang out.
- This will typically be in a damp, dark space, such as under the sink or a dark area in a basement.
- Baking soda will kill an adult cockroach in about 15 hours.
- Mix equal parts of baking soda with sugar or a sugar substance and place it in a small dish where cockroaches hang out.
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Other Methods:
- Dish Soap: For water bugs in a pool, add dish soap to the water (1/8th of a cup per 10,000 gallons) and allow it to sit for a day or two to kill the bugs, making them easier to skim away.
- Environmental Control: Since water bugs thrive near water, eliminate standing water around your house.
- Keep your home dry and clean: Reduce the attraction for these pests by keeping your home dry and clean, with tight-fitting lids on garbage and recycling bins.
- Fix Leaky Faucets: Leaky faucets can attract water bugs, so make sure to fix any leaks.
- Install Drain Covers: Installing drain covers can prevent bugs from coming up your drains.
- Professional Help: If you have a serious problem with water bugs, consider contacting a professional pest control service.
- Dish Soap: For water bugs in a pool, add dish soap to the water (1/8th of a cup per 10,000 gallons) and allow it to sit for a day or two to kill the bugs, making them easier to skim away.
What do pool mites look like?
Several species of Water Mites live in vernal pools. The most obvious one looks like a fat spider with a bright red, round body. It has eight small legs attached near the front end of its body. You can find the adult swimming on the surface of the pools, or scrambling around eating plants underwater.