Pages: 11-19

Abstract

Mosquitoes spread various vector–borne diseases. Though various methods are available for their control, biocontrol using fish is gaining more importance. Hence the present work has been designed to study the potential of Poecilia reticulata on the larval control of mosquitoes. The fish fingerlings were provided with the larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus for testing the influence of prey density, volume of water, container shape, presence of aquatic plant, predator density and time of the day on the predation of mosquito larvae for one hour and 24 hours. Up to the optimum, rise in prey density and volume of water exhibited an increase in predation of mosquito larvae. Predation was higher in round container and with Hydrilla. Increase in the number of predators resulted in a rise in the rate of predation. Higher rate of predation was noticed in the initial hours of predation. If optimum ecological conditions are maintained, the fish, P. reticulata can be employed in the larval control of Cx. quinquefasciatus‎‎.