Something's devouring my plants!

[paolox]

I dug a new wildlife pond a few weeks ago, planted it up and put loads of oxygenating plants in it as I didn't want a fountain. I've now got thousands of mosquito and midge larvae - and my beautiful dwarf variegated pennywort has suddenly gone from bushy to scraggy in the space of about a week! Is it the larvae doing this? And will it all grow back?? Are all my plants in danger of being eaten? This could get expensive!

[paolox]

Just realised I identified the plant incorrectly, it is Hottonnia Palustris (water violet) instead.

[galanthus]

larvae make food for bigger things, ergo, yes you are doing the right thing. sometimes best leave a pond to it's own devices as that' s what nature wld do. BTW probably water snails or taddies destroying plants as plants are the mainstay of their diet

[Jez]

Mosquito eating your plants I hardly doubt it! Water Violet going scraggy, where are they planted in the pond, how long have they been there, what situ is the pond etc just to get a jist as to whats going on a broader scale!

[paolox]

The pond is in full sun for about 6-8hrs a day and the water violets are planted on a marginal shelf. I do have 8 tadpoles in the pond which were given to me by a friend and a few snails and water beetles which have found their way to the pond. Maybe they are the culprits? Hmmm.

The pond is about 4 weeks old and is 4ftx3ftx2ft. The reason I suspected the larvae was because they seem to inhabit the ferns of the water violet.

I'm just a bit concerned that I've spent nearly £100 on plants and seeing them disappear before my eyes! As well as that, oxygen levels could dramatically drop. Should I maybe concentrate my oxygenating plants in the depths of my pond where the tadpoles are unlikely to dive down to? I have some weighted down there with stones but I've probably got room for more.

[galanthus]

I spent a lot on plants first year, most of it ..marsh marigold, water forget me not, iris plants, water hawthorn , club , water lily, etc all still exists, may look a little ravaged here and there but they have survived 3 years. I have a pond rammed full of taddies and copious numbers of ramshorn snails, they all stuff themselves every day but that's the nature of a nature pond

You'll probably find a few pond snails in there, they do terrible damage and come in as eggs on the plants you've already bought. I wld suggest removing these and replacing with 5 or 6 ramshorn snails.

[paolox]

Thanks! I've not witnessed any of the tadpoles munching away on any plants - they seem to spend most of their time eating algae on the rocks and pebbles. I'll try removing the snails as you suggest. Whatever is eating the plants it's quite rampant. It's as if a plague of locusts has suddenly swarmed through the pond and eaten anything "leafy" that was dangling or floating in the water. I might even have a leaf-mining midge problem which I understand is quite common with new ponds.

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by paolox

I'll try removing the snails as you suggest. Whatever is eating the plants it's quite rampant. .

You do need to keep some snails as they will eat debris etc and help keep pond clear, however, as i said replace them with ramshorn when you can .