How do you keep a water garden from attracting mosquitoes? I’d love to have one, but I don’t want the bugs.

—Eva Carlow, Iowa City, Iowa

John Bueglas, entomologist and operator of Dubé Botanical Gardens in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, responds:

“West Nile Virus,” “spiral meningitis,” and “mosquitoes”—combine these three terms and the result is an unwarranted fear of all bodies of water as a potential breeding ground for illness. The best habitat for mosquito larvae is actually shallow, stagnant water, which is not commonly found in backyard ponds. Mosquito larvae are air breathers with a breathing tube like a snorkel that must break the surface of the water for them to take in air while they stay under water to look for food. If the water’s surface is moving, it becomes virtually impossible for them to breathe and they drown.

Products that control mosquito larvae are available to consumers. Items like mosquito pucks contain Bacillus thuringiensis spp. israelensis, which is a bacterium that will kill mosquito larvae (but has no effect on eggs or pupae). While they are effective, they must be replaced regularly. There are easier, more natural ways to keep mosquitoes at bay, including using plants that block bugs and fish that love to munch on insects and their larvae. These alternatives do the job on a permanent and ongoing basis, while also enhancing the beauty and enjoyment of your pond.