Tiny bugs swimming in water butt water

Hello,

I noticed these tiny things in the water butt water and would like to know what they are and if I need to get rid of them.



I use the butt for watering all of the house plants and also the tomato and cucumber plants, is it safe with these bugs in it?

Thanks

 

Can’t see the bugs but I don’t think they are going to be a plant predator.

 

I tried to upload a video but it didn't work

 

Mosquito and/or midge larvae likely , normally on uncovered standing water. They die out of water, but grow to bite you if they are lucky

 

The strong wind blew the lid off so that makes sense, so I can just use the water as usual then and they will die when I water the plants etc.

Has anyone seen a water butt lid flying around

 

You could fish them out with a sieve or strainer, just don’t use it for your tea afterwards .

 

If particularly concerned filter through an old pair of knickers.

 

Avoiding the leg holes.

 

And not while you’re wearing them.

 

If you take the water from the tap at the base of the water butt, then all you need to do is to put a teaspoon of olive oil in the top of the water butt. The larva have to come to the surface to breathe and the film of oil stops them so they drown.

 

The advice above works for mosquito larvae but what you have by the looks of it (hard to see clearly) are daphnia. They are a completely harmless filter feeder that are actually a great sign as they are used as an bioassay to determine good water quality. Mosquito larvae like stinky water.
Daphnia are filter feeders and will lay eggs, they tend to reduce in numbers during the winter but bounce back in spring.

I wouldn't be worried about them in the slightest.

 

Treat yourself to a goldfish, it will like those...

 

Yeah but it wont like living in a water butt.

 

Many years ago we used to go to a Nursery somewhere near Lancaster who had fish in all his water butts and they lived very happily in them.

 

I think the main thing there is, "many years ago".

I had a goldfish in a bowl when I was a kid, wouldn't do that now, I know better.