Urban News

The Hindu      09.06.2010

Fighting the mosquito menace

Shankar Bennur

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Novel approach:This method has proved successful in other parts of the country and in the neighbouring district of Mandya.

MYSORE: The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) has found a novel weapon to control breeding of mosquitoes that cause dengue, malaria and chikungunya — mosquito larvae-eating fish.For the first time, the corporation has resolved to use larva-eating fish such as gambusia, guppy and common carp to control the breeding of mosquitoes.

This method has proved successful in other parts of the country and in the neighbouring district of Mandya.

The corporation has taken up the drive now since pre- and post-monsoon is said to be the time ideal for mosquito breeding owing to water stagnation.

Also known as mosquitofish, an adult gambusia fish can consume more than 200 larvae in an hour.

MCC Health Officer T.S. Nagaraj told The Hindu that the fish eats the larvae of Aedes aegypti, which spreads dengue and chikungunya, and Anopheles mosquitoes, which spreads malaria.

If the fish are let into water bodies such as storage tanks, overhead tanks, wells and containers, they will control the breeding of mosquitoes by consuming their larvae, he said. “We have reports that this method is better than fogging. It will be very effective if the public makes use of them as directed by the health authorities,” he said.

He disclosed that the gambusia, common carp and guppies will be distributed free of cost to interested people at the People's Park from Wednesday.

Interested persons should register their names and addresses and collect a packet with the fish. “Ten to 15 fish are sufficient for each household to keep mosquitoes at bay. They should be let into water containers or tanks,” Dr. Nagaraj said.

In addition, fish will be released into the Karanji lake, the Kukkarahalli lake, the Dalvoy Lake and the Lingambudi lake, which are located in residential areas here.