Study of some larvicidal indigenous  fishes with special reference to biological  control of malaria

Dr. Pushpa Singh; Dr. Umesh Prasad Patel

Volume : II, Issue : VII, July - 2013

Study of some larvicidal indigenous fishes with special reference to biological control of malaria

Dr. Pushpa Singh, Dr. Umesh Prasad Patel

Abstract :

The vector of several diseases are mosquito which carry parasites of malaria, filaria and yellow etc. Natural enemies such as predators play an important role in the predation of vectors in natural habitat. Gambusia affinis popularly known as Doctor fish is well known predatory fish which can be cultured and used in vector control programme. In the present study, use of five indigenous fishes in biological control of mosquito vectors have been reported. The fishes were collected from Bichhia river and used in the laboratory to control Anopheles stephensi larvae. Laboratory experiments were completed in glass aquarium containing five different fishes including Chela bacaila, Barilius bola, Puntius ticto, Anabas testudinius and Gambusia affinis as standard. This study revealed that all the fishes are concerned with larvicidal potential. The study was also conducted with and without fish food to observe larvicidal potential and it was noticed that fish food has some effect on the predatory habit of these fishes. In the presence of fish food the predatory rate per minute per fish was found to be decreased (0.53) and in the absence of fish food the predatory rate got increased (1.05).