Daphnia

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

They usually disperse through pond weed, birds, invertebrates, some species use the wind (apparently), directly through water change etc. They are an actual animal and are not larvae. The are a type of freshwater zooplankton.

....Thanks as always for the info . Mine may possibly have come via the river water I use to top up. Good if they provide food for the newts etc. My pond gets a maximum of 5 hours direct sun a day, so this probably helps the balance.

[Deb London]

In the last couple of days, the daphnia in my pond have become visible. Yesterday the pond seemed to be beautifully clear. I guess they have been 'doing their job'.

[Red Robin]

^^^^
Thnx for reporting that, Deb - I shall be keeping an extra beady eye open for them. Though they may get gobbled up by the newts first.

I think I've seen a couple of mosquito's flying around too, though I'm not 100% sure. No sign of their larvae in my pond though. Last June when I created my pond they seemed to be the first into the water and I didn't know what the heck they were! Lots of 'em too.

It hasn't rained here for at least a couple of weeks but my particular garden is doing absolutely fine without any need for watering.

[GCN lova]

the lake i visited hardly had much daphnia (or none at all) instead what i first thought were daphnia were baby water boatmen