The success of a pond in the garden is based on the establishment of a complex ecosystem where insects play an important role since they are, in spite of themselves, a real "pantry" for the fish and amphibians of the pond!
At the slightest water hole, life swarms! If the fish and plants can obviously be put in place by the hand of man, the arrival of the insects is entirely (or almost entirely) the work of nature! And we must admit that nature is well done, since it only takes a few weeks at the most after the installation of a pond to see many species of water flea insects flocking in.
The main purpose of these insects is to provide a food source for the fish and amphibians in the pond. This is true if the pond has been well designed of course! Indeed, to ensure the survival of these insects, you must think of providing them with a small shallow corner that will keep them safe from adult fish. This small attention will also be welcome to provide a shelter for fry and small fragile fish.
Generally, the first to colonize the wetland are mosquitoes. These insects, which are very unpleasant for the fragile skin of humans, are a real godsend for fish, since their larvae, which lie flush with the water, are a king's meal for any well-constituted fish.
Apart from mosquitoes, many other species will gradually colonize the space, including the very graceful dragonflies, but also detritivores, phytophagous, insectivorous predators, not to mention certain exclusively aquatic species such as dytics and water bugs.
All these insects will attract amphibians and birds to the pond. Although all these insects promote biodiversity without compromising the pond's internal balance, some species should be closely monitored, such as the caterpillars of the water lily (a small butterfly) and the water beetle (a small beetle) whose larvae shamelessly devour the leaves of aquatic plants.
The same goes for aphids, which are best drowned from time to time by immersing the infested leaves in water to avoid carnage on the water lilies! With one simple action, the greedy aphids will become a real feast for the fish!
The great variety of insects attracted by stagnant water is a guarantee of balance for the pond. To preserve it, it is obviously imperative to ban the use of pesticides in the garden!
