What is an effective biological control for mosquito larvae?

The introduction of Gambusia affinis fish, commonly known as mosquito fish, is considered an effective biological control method for managing mosquito larvae. These small freshwater fish are natural predators of mosquito larvae, consuming them at an impressive rate. By introducing them into water bodies where mosquitoes breed, the population of mosquito larvae can be significantly reduced, thus directly impacting the adult mosquito population.

Biological control methods like this are preferred in many situations because they are environmentally sustainable and minimize the negative impacts associated with chemical pesticides. They also often target the pest organisms specifically, reducing the likelihood of harm to non-target species in the ecosystem.

In comparison, chemical pesticides can lead to resistance in mosquito populations and may have harmful effects on other wildlife and human health. Drainage of all water sources is impractical and can have detrimental effects on local ecosystems, whereas increased lawn maintenance, while beneficial for reducing adult mosquito resting places, does not directly address the larvae in water sources where they breed.