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For More Information on Western
Mosquitofish
(as biocontrol of mosquitos):
LA County Disease
Control District
Shasta (CA)
Mosquito Control District |
Distribution:
Throughout the U.S.
Origin:
Southern and Eastern U.S.
Characteristics:
Small, silvery fish having a terminal, upturned mouth with a protruding
lower jaw
Impacts:
Out-compete similar native fish
Management:
There is nothing being done to control them
Mosquitofish have been stocked in Nebraska, introduced as mosquito
control agents.
Because of their aggressive and predatory
behavior, mosquitofish may negatively affect populations of small fish
through predation and competition. In Nebraska, they appear to
be displacing the plains topminnow.
Introducing mosquitofish also can precipitate
algal blooms when the fish eat the zooplankton grazers, or in an increase
in the number of mosquitoes if the fish eat the invertebrate predators.
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