Guide
How to get rid of water bugs and frogs in a pool
Updated October 5, 2026
Written by Richard Ellis, Certified Pool Operator
Short answer
Water bugs in a pool are usually water boatmen, which eat algae and do not bite, and backswimmers, which eat the boatmen and do bite. Get rid of both by removing their food: shock, scrub away the algae, clean the filter and skim them out. Keep frogs out with a sound screen enclosure and a way out of the water.
Florida pools collect wildlife. Bugs that swim upside down, frogs in the skimmer every morning and the odd toad on the steps all come with the territory. Most of it is a sign of something you can fix, and a couple of the bugs are worth knowing about before you get bitten.
What are the bugs swimming in my pool?
Usually one of two. The LSU AgCenter describes water boatmen as oval bugs that feed on algae in the pool, its traps and its filter, and do not bite. Backswimmers are slightly larger, swim on their backs and feed on other insects, including the boatmen. Both can fly, which is how they find your pool.
Do pool water bugs bite?
Backswimmers do. LSU describes the bite as a nasty, stinging sensation. Water boatmen do not bite.
How do I get rid of water bugs in my pool?
Take away the food. LSU's approach is to shock the pool several times, scrub the algae off the walls and floor after each shock, clean the filter, and skim the bugs out. Once the water boatmen have nothing to eat, the backswimmers that hunt them die off or move on. See how to shock a pool.
Why are there frogs in my pool every morning?
They hop in at night and cannot climb back out, so they end up in the skimmer. Pools near lawns, ponds and canals get the most, and a torn screen panel lets them straight in. Fixing the hole is the best fix; see screen repair. A small ramp or floating escape pad gives the ones that do get in a way out.
Is it bad to have frogs in the pool?
For the frogs, yes, chlorinated water is hard on them. For the pool, one that dies in the skimmer or pump basket rots fast and makes the water smell; see why does my pool smell. Check the baskets often in rainy months.
Do pools attract mosquitoes?
A pool that is circulated and chlorinated does not breed them. Standing water around it does: a sagging pool cover, a clogged deck drain or a bucket left out after a storm. Empty those and keep the pump running on schedule.
Quick answers
- Does chlorine kill water bugs?
- Chlorine kills the algae they eat, which is what really gets rid of them. Shock, scrub and skim.
- Why do bugs come to my pool at night?
- Many flying insects are drawn to lights and to water. Fewer lights near the pool at night and a sound screen enclosure both help.
- Should I use algaecide for water bugs?
- LSU suggests it as part of the fix, after shocking and scrubbing, because no algae means no food for water boatmen.
Sources
Keep reading
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