Experimental study of larval efficiency of Gambusia affinis holbrooki (GIRARD, 1859) (fish-Poecilidae)

Experimental study of efficiency of Gambusia affinis holbrooki (GIRARD, 1859) (Fish-Poecilidae). Gambusia affinis is a culiciphage fish which was introduced in Tunisia in 1929 to control mosquito larvae. In the present study, we confirm, under laboratory conditions, the good efficacy of Gambusia affinis against mosquito larvae. The consumption of larvae decreases with the evolution of larvae instars and increases, for the same instar, in relation with the fish size. In fact, the size of the prey is related to the predator's size: fish belonging to the length class 20-24 mm] prefer IIIrd instar, fish from class length 25-29 mm] prefer pupae and IVth instar. The trophic test shows that G. affinis has a clear preference for Culicidae larvae, except fish belonging to the 2 length classes 35-39 mm] and 40-44 mm] for which Culicidae and Ephemeroptera have similar preference. In addition, at high temperature (30 degrees C), Gambusia affinis has a higher efficiency.