It's a question that comes up every summer: is my pool a mosquito breeding ground? You might think that chlorine, salt, or bromine act as natural repellents. Yet, pool owners are often the first to complain about bites. At LAMI, we have studied the behavior of Culicidae around swimming areas to understand what truly attracts them.
Chlorine is not a repellent
It's important to dispel a first myth: chlorine does not scare away mosquitoes. While highly chlorinated water is toxic for larval development, it absolutely does not prevent adult mosquitoes from approaching the pool.
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Attraction by humidity: The tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has ultra-sensitive hygrometric sensors. A pool creates a column of humid air that the insect can detect from several tens of meters away, especially during dry periods.
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The light mirror: The flat, reflective surface of a pool acts as a visual signal. For a mosquito, a bright area means "water," and therefore "potential place for survival or laying eggs."
Why does your pool become a mosquito "magnet"?
It's not so much the pool water itself that's the problem, but the environment it creates.
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Nocturnal evapotranspiration: At night, the heat stored in the water evaporates. This warm, humid airflow is the ideal vector for carrying your own body odors and $CO_2$ to mosquitoes lurking nearby.
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Peripheral larval habitats: The danger often comes from accessories. According to Anses, rainwater stagnating on a poorly stretched bubble cover or in the folds of a winter cover is an ideal breeding ground. Here, chlorine is no longer present, and the larvae develop undisturbed.
Ornamental ponds and pools: balance against invasion
For chemical-free garden ponds, the logic is different. Stagnant, lifeless water is a nursery. But a balanced pond is a mosquito-fighting weapon.
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Natural predators: If your pond hosts fish, newts, or dragonfly larvae, mosquito eggs will be devoured before they even hatch.
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Water movement: A simple fountain or waterfall prevents females from landing to lay eggs, as they need a perfectly calm surface.
The LAMI solution: Securing the swimming area
Because you cannot eliminate the natural attractiveness of water, you must divert mosquitoes' attention before they reach your loungers.
Biomimetic interception
LAMI technology (available as Open Source) uses what Marie, our pharmacist, calls the "super-magnet": our CO2 GEL.
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The trick: Placed at a strategic distance (5 to 7 meters from the pool), the LAMI terminal emits a human breath signal stronger than that of swimmers.
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The result: The mosquito, attracted by the pool's humidity but captivated by the terminal's signal, is sucked in by the turbine designed by Emmanuel before it even has a chance to bite.
Chlorinated water does not attract mosquitoes for its chemical properties, but for the coolness and humidity it gives off. By combining rigorous maintenance of your covers and a LAMI aspiration terminal, you transform your pool into a bite-free relaxation zone.
Want to protect your swimming area with a healthy and effective solution?
