Larvivorous fish and their role in human Welfare

1. Department of Zoology
Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak
Under the supervision of
Dr. Yogendra Kumar payasi
Assistant Professor
Department of Zoology
Presented by
Mr. Jogeswar khilar
M.Sc. 4th semester
Enrollment no.-2101218008
1

2. 2
• Mosquito borne diseases continue to be a major problem in all most all tropical and
subtropical countries.
• They are responsible for the transmission of the pathogens causing some of the life
threatening diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya, filariasis,
encephalitis etc.
Dengue
fever
• Larvivorous fish, as recognized by WHO are a
powerful and environmentally sensitive
solution in the fight against mosquito borne
diseases.
• Approximately 315 larvivorous species are
recorded. Among them Cyprinidae,
Hemirhamphidae, Chilidae, Poeciliidae and
Anabantidae species are most important
larvivorous fish (Ghosh and Dash,2007).
Introduction

3. Classification of larvicidal fishes based on mosquitocidal activity
• Hora and Mukheji (1953), on the basis of efficiency of mosquitocidal activities classified
the fish under following categories-
Typical surface
feeders
Surface feeders
Sub surface
feeders
Column feeders
Gambusia
Aplocheilus
Oryzias
Aphanius
Rasbora
Danio
Channa
Notopetrus

4. 4
Important larvicidal fishes of India
• In India a number of fish species are used as larvivorous fish which includes both exotic as
well as indigenous varieties.
Larvicidal fishes
of India
Exotic species Indigenous species
Examples
Gambusia affinis
Lebistes reticulatus
Carassius auratus
Examples
Oryzias melanostigma
Channa spp.
Rasbora daniconius
Danio rerio

5. Exotic species
5
Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish): The species can
successfully survive in overcrowding conditions. It starts
breeding when it is 2 inches in size. A single fish can
consume mosquito larvae equal to its own weight each day
and hence known as “mosquito fish”.
Lebistes reticulatus (Guppy): They are adaptable and
thrive in many different environmental and ecological
conditions. The feeding behaviour of guppy fish is
omnivorous. Guppies are known for their voracious
appetite for mosquito larvae and pupae.
Carassius auratus (Gold fish): It has been imported by
various countries, including India. It is an effective
larvicidal fish. Because of its high cost of maintenance
large scale utilisation as larvicidal fish is uneconomical
and is used chiefly as aquarium fish.
Gambusia affins
Lebistes reticulatus
Carassius auratus

6. 6
Indigenous species
Oryzias Melanostigma: also called as black stripe minnow. It is
an omnivorous fish with a small mouth and they eat tiny food
particles likes mosquito larvae, algae, insects.
Channa species: It is commonly known as snake heads, native to
freshwater habitats in Asia. Channa species are carnivorous fish.
Mainly, channa fish have been introduced with water bodies with
mosquito infestation as apart of integrated vector management
(IVM).
Rasbora daniconius: It commonly know as Indian scissor.
Rasbora are also know as micro predators in their natural habitat.
Oryzias Melanostigma
Channa species
Rasbora daniconius

7. 7
Source: The life cycle of a mosquito Free Vector
Impact on mosquito Life cycle

8. *
Mosquito Borne Diseases
8

9. Role of Integrated vector mangement (IVM)
• Biological Control Method: Larvivorous fish prey on
mosquito larvae, reducing their numbers. Advantages:
Effective at controlling mosquitoes at the larval stage.
Minimal harm to non-target species.
• Community Engagement Method: Involving
communities in the rearing and release of larvivorous
fish. Empowers local communities in disease control.
Increases awareness about the importance of mosquito
control & Requires education and ongoing community
support.
• Sustainable Mosquito Control Method: Larvivorous fish
contribute to sustainable, long-term mosquito control.
Reduces reliance on chemical insecticides. Mitigates the
risk of insecticide resistance &Requires monitoring and
management to maintain fish populations. 9
Vector control Method

10. Economic and Social benefits
10

11. Conclusion
• Larvivorous fish can be used as biocontrol agents in managing mosquito
populations and reduce mosquito borne diseases.
• Main purpose of using larvivorous fish is to target mosquito larvae and puape,
which effectively disrupt the mosquito life cycle and reduce the potential of
diseases transmission.
• Larvivorous fish contribute directly in reduction of mosquito-borne diseases like
chikunguniya, Malaria and Dengue etc.
• More studies regarding larvivorous fish lifecycle and their control mechanisms are
required to improve the human welfare.
11

12. • I would like to thank Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak for
giving me such an opportunity for this dissertation work.
• I would like to thank the Head of the Department Dr. Rekha Rani and the
Department of Zoology for providing me this opportunity.
• I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my supervisor Dr.
Yogendra Kumar Payasi , Assistant Professor for the cooperation and suggestions
given by him during the dissertation work.
• I am also thankful to Prof. Poonam Sharma, Prof. J.P. Shukla, Dr. Vijay Paramanik,
and Dr. Desh Deepak Chaudhary for their valuable assistance.
• I am extremely thankful to my co-disserties Mr. Pradosh ranjan Barik , Mr. Adnan
T for giving me suggestions and support.
Acknowledgement
12

13. Reference
1. Abramenko, MI., Kravchenko OV., Velikoivanenko AE (1997) Population genetic structure of
the Gold fish Carassius auratus gibelio diploid triploid complex from the Don River Basin., J.
of lchthyology, 37: 56 65
2. Aditya, G., Pal, S., Saha, N. and Saha, G.K. (2012) Efficacy of indigenous larvivorous fishes
against Culex quinquefasciatus in the presence of alternative prey: Implications for biological
control., J. Vect. Borne Dis, 49: 217-225.
3. Awoyemi, O.M., Uwafili, P.N., Izegaegbe, J. I. and Fadeyi O.P. (2014) Analysis of the
foraging behaviour of Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) in relation to its use as a biological method
for the enironmental control of mosquito larvae. Int. J. Recent Res. Appl. Stud, 21(3) : 103-
113.
4. Jenifer N.P., Kumar M. and Kumar K.L. (2012) The effects of photoperiod on the growth rate
of Black Molly Pocellia sphenops (Valenciennes, 1846) from larvae to adult in mass culture.,
International J. of Adv. Life Sci. (JALS), 5 (2): 133-136.
13

14. 14

15. 15