Efficacy of the Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard) in the Control of Anopheles and Culex Mosquito larvae in Sennar State, Sudan

Abstract

This laboratory and semi-field studies were designed to
explore the larvivorous potential of Gambusia affinis and ways this fish
might be employed in an ongoing Sennar state mosquito control program.
The present experiments were conducted on G. affinis feeding patterns.
The mean number of larvae consumed by G. affinis was 132 larvae during
24 hours. Additionally, G. affinis had a tendency to feed on early instars
than the late ones under both laboratory and semi-field conditions in
Sennar state. The percentages of larval consumption were 98% (±4),
86.2% (±13.6), 77.4% (±7.3) and 63.6% (±32.5) for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and
4th instars, respecti`vely. The percentage of larvae consumed of varied
instars was 87.4% (±21.8). Moreover, total consumption of the immature
stages of mosquito larvae can be achieved as the number of Anopheles
larvae consumed ranged between 46.7% and 100% (mean 72.68%
±20.04) and of Culex larvae between 54.2% and 100% (mean 86.7%
±20.27). This study suggests that G, affinis could be a useful tool in the
ongoing Sennar state vector control program. Further studies should be
performed to assess the ecology, seasonality and to be conducted under
large scale