World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2019, 01(02), 007–014 World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews Cross Ref DOI: 10.30574/wjarr Journal homepage: https://www.wjarr.com  Corresponding author E-mail address: jthatheyus@yahoo.co.in Copyright © 2019 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0. (R ESEARCH A RTICLE ) Studies on the biocontrol of mosquitoes using Oreochromis mossambicus Santha J 1 , Appasamy Surendran 2 and Antony Joseph Thatheyus 1, * 1 PG and Research Department of Zoology, The American College, Madurai, India. 2 PG Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The American College, Madurai, India. Publication history: Received on 18 January 2019; revised on 25 February 2019; accepted on 01 march 2019 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2019.1.2.0010 Abstract Mosquitoes cause nuisance to human beings by biting and transmitting vector-borne diseases. Though several control strategies are available for their control, biocontrol holds much promise. Among biocontrol agents, larvivorous fishes are gaining importance. Hence the present study has been undertaken to test the efficiency of O. mossambicus in the larval control of Culex quinquefasciatus. Experiments were designed with different ecological conditions like prey density, volume of water, container shape, presence of vegetation, predator density and time of the day to test the biocontrol potential of the fish. The fish was able to control the third instar larve of C. quinquefasciatus and hence it can be used in mosquito control programmes. Keywords: Oreochromis mossambicus; Culex quinquefasciatus; Biocontrol; Mosquitoes; Predatory activity; Hydrilla 1. Introduction Mosquitoes may be nature’s most effective bioterrorists because they transmit some of the world’s most life threatening and debilitating parasitic and viral diseases including Malaria (Anopheles), filariasis (Culex, Mansonia and some Anopheles sp.) and Dengue fever (principally Aedes aegypti). Alarmingly, these diseases are on the rise in many tropical and sub-tropical areas [1]. These vector-borne diseases are increasing due to the risk of transmission fuelled by developmental activities, demographic changes and introduction of new products. Owing to rapid human movement/migration, diseases are spreading at a much faster rate and the problem is no more of local but global concern [2]. The management of mosquitoes require adequate knowledge about the species diversity, density, distribution pattern and biting behaviour for evolving an appropriate management strategy and to implement the same for the effective control of population and in turn to reduce the menace and the incidence of the diseases in the endemic and epidemic areas [3]. Since the vector and non-vector mosquitoes are increasing in large numbers, it is necessary to use an effective tool and all available management techniques to bring about an effective degree of control in a cost-effective way. In addition to this, the problem of the management of mosquitoes in different regions is not uniform and the variation is mainly due to dynamic and differential nature of the mosquito population [4]. Different control strategies such as use of chemicals, biological agents, repellents, ecomanagement and biocides can be employed to control the mosquito vectors. As biological mosquito control agents, larvivorous fish are being used extensively all over the world since the early 1900s. Gambusia affinis has high larvivorous potential and hence it was introduced from its native Texas (USA) to the Hawaiian Islands in 1905. In 1921 it was introduced in Spain, then in Italy during 1920s and later to sixty other countries. A major portion of the National Health budget is spent on the control of mosquito-borne diseases. Various types of control methods have been developed and adopted for vector control but with little success. The task is yet to be addressed expeditiously. Drastic reduction in mosquito/vector population and mosquito-borne diseases can be achieved by judicious use of various available control strategies developed along with