Studies on the biocontrol of mosquitoes using Oreochromis mossambicus

Santha J 1, Appasamy Surendran 2 and Antony Joseph Thatheyus 1, *

1 PG and Research Department of Zoology, The American College, Madurai, India.
2 PG Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The American College, Madurai, India.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2019, 01(02), 007–014.
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2019.1.2.0010
 
Publication history: 
Received on 18 January 2019; revised on 25 February 2019; accepted on 01 march 2019
 
Abstract: 
Mosquitoes cause nuisance to human beings by biting and transmitting vector-borne diseases. Though several control strategies are available for their control, biocontrol holds much promise. Among biocontrol agents, larvivorous fishes are gaining importance. Hence the present study has been undertaken to test the efficiency of O. mossambicus in the larval control of Culex quinquefasciatus. Experiments were designed with different ecological conditions like prey density, volume of water, container shape, presence of vegetation, predator density and time of the day to test the biocontrol potential of the fish. The fish was able to control the third instar larve of C. quinquefasciatus and hence it can be used in mosquito control programmes.
Keywords: 
Oreochromis mossambicus; Culex quinquefasciatus; Biocontrol; Mosquitoes; Predatory activity; Hydrilla
 
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