Mosquitofish
Other Names: (Gambusia affinis)
The mosquitofish is native to southern and eastern portions of the United States. They have been one of the most effective non-insecticidal and non-chemical methods of controlling mosquitoes for over eighty years. Mosquitofish don’t lay eggs, but rather give birth to live young.
Breeding
These fish require no special environment, as most other fish do, for depositing and hatching their eggs. They breed throughout the summer and new broods are produced at intervals of about six weeks, with 50 to 100 young in a single brood. The young are approximately 1/4 inch in length when born and grow to a maximum size of about three inches.
Mosquitofish Work
They are ready to begin the work of destroying mosquito larvae at once. Mosquitofish can eat mosquito larvae as fast as the larvae hatch from eggs, as many as 100 per day. The earliest brood of the season, born in April and May, become sexually mature and produce young when six to eight weeks old. Mosquitofish live 2 to 3 years and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
Mosquito Dunks
This biological pest control product kills mosquito larvae but is completely non-toxic to animals such as fish, birds, wildlife and pets. Each individual dunk will last up to 30 days in standing water and will cover 100 square feet of surface.
Safe to use in the following places and areas where standing water is a possible breeding ground for mosquitoes:
- Aquatic gardens
- Bird baths
- Fish ponds
- Flood control basins
- Flower pots
- Horse troughs
- Lakes
- Pet watering bowls
- Unused swimming pools