Few Phoenix homeowners know that there are 950,000 species of insects, and that most of those are BENEFICIAL to our environment, or food for desirable critters. Most people are really only trying to kill about 10 unwanted insects in their yard and home. When you take that into account, does it really make sense to broadcast poison over your entire property? Not to mention, the health risks for both humans and pets. Let’s take a look at an alternative option for controlling the common “pest.”
Mosquitoes
This little blood-sucker is probably the most despised pest on the list! It’s been known to carry all kinds of diseases, and many people have a very bad reaction to the anti-clotting agent that they introduce when they bite. Would it surprise you to learn that a single dragonfly can eat its own body weight of insects in just 30 minutes? Damselflies, too. And where would you find such great allies for your outdoor environment? Hanging out around a living water feature (pond, waterfall, stream), of course!
Crickets
In the Far East, it’s considered good luck to have a cricket in your house, and very bad luck to kill one, even by accident. But here in the States, we don’t really adhere to that superstition. So, what can having a pond do about those? Well, frogs and toads LOVE crickets. And where can you find those? Hanging out around a living water feature (pond), of course!
Scorpions
Yikes! No one likes these guys around the house! Even our cat isn’t really fond of playing with them. But scorpions are actually pretty resistant to the common pest controls and poisons out there. So, what now? Believe it or not: frogs and toads. And where can you find those? Hanging out around a living water feature (pond), of course! Are you sensing a theme yet?
That covers the three top-hated insects. There are others, but they can all be hunted and eaten by cool critters that will live around your yard happily if you have the right environment for them (pond, waterfall, stream, etc.).
Many biologists agree that a well-built ecosystem pond is actually the cure for the West Nile Virus, along with providing integrated pest management. Oh, and that pest management is FREE of charge.
Other Resources
For more research into the subject, here are some great resources to learn more about integrated pest management:
- https://cals.arizona.edu/apmc
- http://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/WhatIsIPM/
- http://npic.orst.edu/pest/ipm.html
Here are some books on insects in Arizona:
- Insects of the Southwest by Floyd Werner, Phh.D. & Carl Olson, M.S.
- Draongflies & Damselflies of the Southwest by Robert A. Behrstock
In summary, a pond can be more than a pleasurable low-maintenance landscape option for Phoenix homeowners. It can provide a valuable service, too.
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Arizona (AZ) & Surrounding Areas
For more information on Pond Construction: https://pondgnome.com/pond-construction-phoenix-az/