UC Mosquito Research Program: Aquatic Pest Control Manual, Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

Mosquitofish are effective biological control agents for mosquito larvae. The term, "mosquitofish," usually refers to Gambusia affinis, a species that resembles guppies. Used in mosquito control in California since 1921, the mosquitofish is an extremely important biological control agent. Mosquito abatement districts stock them in marshlands, canals, roadside ditches, creeks, ponds, garden pools, rice fields, livestock-watering ponds, and water-storage reservoirs, wrote, authors Patrick O'Connor-Marer and Kathy Keatley Garvey wrote in their book, Aquatic Pest Control. (Photo by Jack Kelly Clark)