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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Neighbor sprayed for mosquitoes

16 years ago

I went outside this evening to enjoy my pond, and the neighbor behind me was spraying her yard for insects, probably mosquitoes. The worker was using a hose attachment, spraying the yard, all the shrubs, and even up in the trees. There is no wind tonight (thankfully) and our yards are separated by a six foot privacy fence, so I don't think any of it directly came into my yard, but I can smell the spray plainly whenever I go outside. Will this be a health risk for my fish? I just did a partial water change this afternoon (before she started spraying). Would it be advisable to do another one this soon?

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Comments (4)

comettose
16 years ago
You need to talk to your neighbor to have them not spray on windy nights and to not let it drift on your pond. Find out what they sprayed too. Most insecticides are not good for fish or invertibrates. Most likely a home spray will have pyrethrum (which comes from mums) and it is not good for fish but if you did a partial water change you are OK. Spray the surrounding area with your hose to wash off the leaves of any spray (on your side).

When you see them spraying next time put your sprinkler on over the pond and also ensure some of the sprinkler spray overlaps on to their side of the fence a bit. It will knock the spray out of the air near your pond.

They might think your pond causes mosquitos as many misinformed people think that, or they are just clueless about it completely and you need to talk to them if you can. Mosquitos are more likely to breed in your neighbors yard if they have potted plants with saucers that hold water. Water that is still for 3 days will breed mosquitos. Moving water with fish does not breed mosquitos.

Good luck - neighbors are a pain in the butt sometimes.
missa7
16 years ago
Or at least inform you when they may be doing such things so that you could take precautions.

Maybe talk to the neighbor & explain things & ask if in the future he/she could let you know prior to doing such things so that you may take precautions if needed.

I don't know, might be worth a try.
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youreit
16 years ago
If they were spraying for mosquitos (adulticiding - the application of pesticide chemicals to kill the adult form of the mosquito), it's a waste of time, anyway. The mosquitos must come into contact with the spray to have any effect. More mosquitos simply fly into the area later on.

From a gov't website -

Can these targeted ground sprays with adulticides harm other insects or wildlife?

"The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has evaluated these pesticides for their safety and has determined that they do not pose an unreasonable risk to birds or mammals if used according to the product label directions. However, the pyrethroid adulticides are considered highly toxic to fish and bees. Therefore, these products are not permitted to be applied to or near open water bodies or in sensitive environments such as wetlands."

I think it's time you had a talk with your neighbor to find out exactly what was sprayed. Your next course of action will depend on that, as well as your neighbor's willingness to respect your space in the future.

Brenda
nkm56
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the comments. Fish are still okay and eating eagerly. I'll speak to my neighbor.

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