Fishes of District Sundargarh, Orissa, with special reference to their potential in mosquito control

An extensive fish fauna survey was carried out in Sundargarh, a malaria-endemic district in Orissa, during 1988 to 1990 to identify and evaluate the indigenous larvivorous fishes for mosquito control. In all, 57 species belonging to 19 families under 6 orders were found in the local water bodies. On laboratory evaluation against anopheline and culicine larvae, six potential larvivorous fishes, viz. Aplocheilus panchax, Oryzias melastigma, Oreochromis mossambicus, Gambusia affinis, Danio (B.) rerio and Esomus danricus were selected. Feasibility of mass multiplication of these fishes in village ponds for operational use is being studied.