Biological Control of Vector Mosquitoes by Some Common Exotic Fish Predators

Authors : Anupam GHOSH, Samir MANDAL, İndranil BHATTACHARJEE, Goutam CHANDRA

Pages : 167-171

View : 19 | Download : 5

Publication Date : 2005-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Predation experiments using Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1758);, Ctenopharyngodon idella insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Valenciennes 1844);, Oreochromis niloticus niloticus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Linnaeus 1758); and Clarias gariepinus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Burchell 1822); were conducted against fourth instar Anopheles stephensi Liston insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1901); larvae and pupae at varying prey and predator densities. The relative prey consumption rates of the four fish species for An. stephensi larvae and pupae during 24-hour experiments under laboratory conditions were C. gariepinus > C. idella > C. carpio > O. n. niloticus. Predatory efficacy was positively related with prey density and inversely related with water volume insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(search area);. A significant decrease in larval abundance in dipper samples was observed at 30 and 45 days after introduction of fishes insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(30 individuals each); in field conditions. The efficacy of the fish under field conditions was also indicated by significant increases of larval mosquito abundance at 30 and 45 days after removal of fishes.
Keywords : Biological control, larvivorous fish, Anopheles stephensi, immature mosquitoes