Adverse assessments of Gambusia affinis: an alternate view for mosquito control practitioners

Adverse opinions on the introduction of Gambusia affinis for the control of larval mosquitoes are reviewed. The sources span a period of some 59 years and come from a variety of sources. The principal opposition to the introduction of G. affinis comes from ichthyologists, although some mosquito researchers have expressed concerns about the environmental impact of placing the fish in habitats to which it is not native. Questions concerning the appropriateness of using the fish are presented.