Dragon fly larvae in water butt - what to do?

[Seahorse]

One of my water butts has loads of dragon fly larvae in it! I haven't the heart to send them to their doom but it's a pain for the water to be unavailable. My best idea to date is trying to ladle them out into a bucket or our old baby bath but maybe someone has a better plan?

[smallblueplanet]

What do dragonfly larvae eat? Can't you put a sieve across the exit tap?

[citygirl]

i have some kind of larvae in my water too. they *look* like dragonflies. but i doubt they are.

[Seahorse]

What do dragonfly larvae eat? Can't you put a sieve across the exit tap?

Uhh, I may have been a little 'grand' in my use of the term 'water butt' It's an old style plastic dustbin, so I just scoop water from the top (hence why it was open for rainfall and the dragonflies got in! )

My 10 year old wildlife expert assures me they're df larvae and she certainly knows more than I do!

[citygirl]

Uhh, I may have been a little 'grand' in my use of the term 'water butt' It's an old style plastic dustbin, so I just scoop water from the top (hence why it was open for rainfall and the dragonflies got in! )

My 10 year old wildlife expert assures me they're df larvae and she certainly knows more than I do!

haha...snap!

[sewer rat]

Just stretch an old pair of tights acros the top of your pail / watering can. That will let you fill the can but keep the larvae out. If any do get tangled, just scrape them back into your water bin.

[Seahorse]

Just stretch an old pair of tights acros the top of your pail / watering can. That will let you fill the can but keep the larvae out. If any do get tangled, just scrape them back into your water bin.

Brilliant! You're a star SR