Biological control of mosquito larvae by Guppy fish.

ABSTRACT

Predation potentiality of a biological control agent, the guppy fish, Poecilia reticulata (= Lebistes reticulatus), was studied over the mosquito larvae under laboratory conditions. The third instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito were used as prey. The average consumption rate was 41.0 per day per fish. The female fish was more active (54.9) than male ones (27.0). The feeding activity was found to be higher at higher water temperature. The study suggests that this fish could be used, after careful field trial, as a promising and sustainable biological control agent in controlling filariasis and other mosquito-borne diseases.