Robyn,

My large pond is about 6 months old. It is abundant with all kinds of "pond life". However, to my horror, I am now finding the shedded exoskeletons of Giant Water Bugs, you know the ones that fly and have pincers and are huge!!!! Anyway, I am having trouble enjoying the pond because of these knowing that they are eating a lot of my fish and amphibians. Do you know of a large fish or turtle that would eat these monsters? I have a lot of Gambusia and other little fish that nibble at the molted skins, but nothing big enough to take on one of the monsters within. Thanks for your site, it is great.....Jennifer in Southwest Florida.

Any large animal may eat them. I've never had one in my ponds. I think the young water bugs are eaten while still small. So once you have larger fish, etc., they will eat the baby water bugs the next batch around. I doubt the water bugs would eat a lot of your small animals but they will eat some. Orfe are good predatory pond fish but will eat any animals under an inch or so.