Mosquitofish

Context:

?   Recently, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Punjab have released mosquitofish into local water bodies to address a mosquito menace.

About Mosquitofish

?   The biological control of mosquitoes, introducing mosquitofish in freshwater ecosystems to feed on mosquito  larvae  became  a prominent way to control mosquito menace.

?   It is a prominent alternative to chemical solutions like pesticides that have dire adverse effects on both human health and the ecosystem.

?   Among mosquito predators were two species of mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis and Gambusia holbrooki.

?   In 1928, Gambusia was first introduced in India during British rule. The idea of this scheme was that the newly introduced species would prey on or compete with mosquito larvae, reducing the latter’s population.

?   The strategy was well-intentioned but it backfired, leading to severe ecological and environmental problems.