Comparative efficiency of Larvivorous fishes against Culex mosquitoes: Implications for biological control

Abstract

Biological control of mosquitoes using larvivorous fishes is a sustainable practice when compared to the traditionally used chemical methods. The present study made an attempt to evaluate the comparative larvivorous potential of three indigenous fish namely Danio rerio, Danio malabaricus and Aplocheilus panchax with two exotic species Gambusia affinis and Poecilia reticulata against Culex larvae. Predatory potential of fishes was assessed at different prey densities for a period of 24 hour. The study revealed that all the fishes showed larvivorous potential with differences in their feeding efficiencies. The sequence of predation efficacy noted in the present study was Danio rerio > Aplocheilus panchax > Gambusia affinis > Danio malabaricus > Poecilia reticulata. The study also shown that the foraging behavior of all the fishes showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) with increase in prey densities. Hence, the strategy of biological control through indigenous larvivorous fishes can be practical on a large scale which is economically viable and pollution free.