Sure, it's convenient to have a refreshing pool right outside your door. But that's not the only reason why many people prefer their own pool to a natural body of water: it is usually free of algae and, above all, insects. All the more annoying when the latter colonize your own swimming pool.
An animal that is actually never missing in this case is the so-called backswimmer. How you recognize it, what characteristics it brings with it and how you can combat backstroke in the pool is answered quite quickly.
How to recognize this type of water bug
Common backswimmers (Notonectidae) are visually very similar to the rowing bug, which is why they are often confused. But you don't have to observe for long to see the differences. This is what they look like:
- 13 to 18 mm in size
- flattened body, typical of bedbugs
- light brown back (wings) with black triangle just behind the head
- big eyes
- swimming on your back, which is caused by the air bubble. This is located on the stomach so that it rotates upwards.
- hairy hind legs for rowing
Still waters are their home. Like rowing bugs, they are not only found in pools, ponds and ponds, but also in lakes, where they colonize the shore areas. Even deep puddles are enough for them to feel comfortable.
Unlike rowing bugs, backswimmers do not feed on algae. They are predatory insects and hunt for other, smaller animals (even small fish), using swimming on their backs as an aid. They float on the surface of the water and wait for a good chance to catch something. To eat, they use their proboscis, which they use to suck out their prey.
Are backstrokers dangerous in the pool?
Did you know that these water bugs are also called “water bees”? Can you already guess why? The insects are not dangerous in the sense of being poisonous. But not quite as harmless as the rowing bugs. Backstroke swimmers have a nasty habit of stinging, and this sting is quite unpleasant. This is also one of the main reasons why pool owners want to combat backstrokers in the pool.
Removing algae will,different from the rowing bug, do not immediately provide peace of mind for these predators, as they do not feed on them. Nevertheless, pool cleaning is the only true solution. Logical, because without algae other insects won't get into your pool and so the water bees won't have anything to eat either. They are forced to look for another place to live.
Clean the swimming pool as follows:
- Cleanfirst the reasonin order not to stir up unnecessary mud, algae and other dirt during further cleaning.
- Scrub the pool walls. Algae quickly attach themselves there too. If you loosen them, the pump with filter can catch them.
- Now there is extensive chlorination. Double the amount you normally add to the water. You should avoid bathing for the first 8 hours afterwards. For this reason, it is recommended to carry out this step in the evening. The pump should run continuously for the next 48 to 36 hours as it mixes the chlorine well with the water.
To ensure that the result lasts for a long time and that you are free of insects in the future, you should alsonormal pool cleaningAlso check the water quality regularly. Since commercially available test strips are not always reliable, it is worth investing in an electronic water tester. These are the optimal values for a swimming pool:
- Alkalinity: 80-120 mg/l
- pH value: 7.2 and 7.6
- Water hardness: 200-400 mg/l
