Evaluation of Efficacy of Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) as Larvivorous Fish to Control Mosquito Larvae

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Surendranath et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (2): 57-64 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051
Copyright © March-April, 2018; IJPAB 57
Evaluation of Efficacy of Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) as Larvivorous
Fish to Control Mosquito Larvae
S. V. Surendranath*, K. M. Nesara, K. Rakesh, K. R. Amogha, and M. Ganapathi Naik
Department of Aquaculture, Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, College of
Fisheries, Mangalore-575002, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: surendranathgowda@gmail.com
Received: 31.01.2018 | Revised: 27.02.2018 | Accepted: 4.03.2018
INTRODUCTION
The mosquito-borne diseases are the major
problem in almost all tropical and subtropical
countries10. The mosquitoes play a major role
in transmitting many hazardous diseases that
include malaria, dengue, filariasis,
encephalitis, equine infectious anaemia,
yellow fever and chikungunya14, 16, 23, 31, 42. The
mosquitoes breed in stagnant waters and the
larvae can be seen in small pits, drainage
water, ornamental pools, water coolers, lakes,
paddy fields etc.15. In order to check the spread
of mosquito-borne diseases, mosquito larvae
need to be controlled by employing chemical,
physical and biological control measures. The
chemical measures (pesticides) are the
important components of mosquito control
program worldwide.
Available online at www.ijpab.com
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6217
ISSN: 2320 – 7051
Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (2): 57-64 (2018)
ABSTRACT
A study on larvivoricity of platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) was carried out for 24 h. The
experiment was carried out in aquarium tanks consisting of individual male platy (T1), individual
female platy (T2), 2 male platy (T3), male and female platy (T4) and 2 female platy (T5). Each
tank containing 24 h pre-starved fish were offered 600 numbers of mosquito larvae and the
consumption rate/tank was recorded at 24 h. On an average, the tank holding 2 female fish (T5)
consumed 579.3 number of mosquito larvae registering the highest consumption rate followed by
T4 containing male and female fish consumed 427.3 no. of mosquito larvae, T2 containing
individual female fish consumed 271.7 no. of mosquito larvae, T3 containing 2 male fish
consumed 251 no. of mosquito larvae and T1 containing individual male fish with 124.7 no. of
mosquito larvae. The mosquito larvae consumption rate was T5>T4>T2>T3>T1. The water
quality parameters recorded during the study were well within the tolerable range for platy fish.
The statistical analysis performed by One way ANOVA showed no significant difference between
the group T2 and T3, but there was a significant difference among the groups T1, T4 and T5. The
present study indicated that the platy may be used as potential larvivorous fish to control
mosquito larvae. Further, the larvivoricity rate of female platy is higher than male.
Key words: Mosquito larvae, Platy, Larvivorous, Xiphophorus maculatus.
Research Article
Cite this article: Surendranath, S.V., Nesara, K.M., Rakesh, K., Amogha, K.R., and Naik, M.G.,
Evaluation of Efficacy of Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) as
Larvivorous Fish to Control Mosquito Larvae,
Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6(2): 57-64 (2018). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6217

Surendranath et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (2): 57-64 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051
Copyright © March-April, 2018; IJPAB 58
The repeated use of the pesticides to control
mosquitoes resulted in the development of
chemically resistant sub strains of mosquito,
pollutes water and land resources17. The
development of resistance to insecticides in
mosquitoes along with emergence of different
mosquito-borne diseases and damage to
ecosystem by the use of insecticides
necessitised the way to show interest in
biological control techniques25, 26. The attempts
have been made to use larvivorous fish species
as biological controlling agents which are
considered as the alternative methods against
insecticides14, 27, 33, 34, 43. It has been reported
that there are more than 253 species of fish
which can be considered to control mosquito
and its larvae throughout the world13. The use
of fish as biocontrol agents has been proved
effective towards the control of malaria
mosquito larvae19, 22. It was also suggested that
the larvivorous fish should be hardy, small in
size and possess the capacity to live in shallow
water bodies among thick weeds where
mosquitoes breed and multiply20. The different
larvivorous fishes like Poecilia reticulate,
Gambusia affinis, Colisa fasciatus, Aphanius
disper, Aplocheilus panchax, Rasbora
daniconius, Trichogaster fasciata,
Trichogaster lalia, Notopterus notopterus,
Esomus dandricus, Anabas testudines,
Wallago attu and Chanda nama can be used as
biocontrol agents to control mosquito larvae 10,
21, 28, 29. The present study was conducted to
understand the potential use of platy as a
larvivorous fish to control the mosquito larvae.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted in laboratory
conditions with a total of 10 aquarium tanks in
triplicates. The total 24 platy fish were
procured form local aquarium shop. The
length and weight of each fish were recorded
and placed in different aquarium tanks (20 L),
in the order of individual male platy (T1),
individual female platy (T2), 2 male platy
(T3), male and female platy (T4) and 2 female
platy (T5). The fishes were acclimatized for
one week and fed with artificial feed. After
acclimatization fish were starved for 24 h
before introduction of mosquito larvae as feed.
Mosquito larvae were cultured near the
experimental setup by mixing dry poultry
manure with clean water at the rate of 0.25
grams/ltr in 5 fibber glass tank each containing
100 litre of water. The tanks were kept
undisturbed in dark place for 7 days. So that
mosquitoes can lay eggs and larvae can
develop. After 7 days, the larvae in the 3rd
instar stage were collected, washed with clean
water, counted and fed to the fish. Each
aquarium tank was provided with 600 numbers
of mosquito larvae and consumption rate in
each aquarium tank at 24th h was recorded.The
water quality parameters were analysed just
before commencement of experiment and at
24th h of experiment. The water samples were
collected at 0th h (just prior to release of
mosquito larvae) and at 24th h after release of
mosquito larvae, and analyzed for water
temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), free
carbon dioxide and ammonia. Digital pH
meter model LI 613 was used to record pH.
Water temperature was recorded by using
thermometer. Dissolved oxygen was estimated
by Winkler’s method. The ammonia and free
carbon dioxide were determined according to
the standard methods 3.The statistical analysis
for the mean mosquito larvae consumption
among all groups was performed by One way
ANOVA: p<0.05, by using Tukey’s HSD test.
RESULTS
The length and weight of all fishes were
ranged from 3.8 cm to 4.3 cm and 1.25g to
1.75 g respectively. In the experimental period
of 24 h, the rate of mosquito larvae
consumption varied among the different
groups (Fig 2). On an average, the tank
holding 2 female fish (T5) consumed 579.3
number of mosquito larvae registering the
highest consumption rate. The group of male
and female fish (T4) consumed 427.3 number
of mosquito larvae. The individual female fish
(T2) consumed 271.7 number of mosquito
larvae. The group of 2 male fish (T3)
consumed 251 number of mosquito larvae and
the individual male fish (T1) consumed 124.7
number of mosquito larvae.In the present

Surendranath et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (2): 57-64 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051
Copyright © March-April, 2018; IJPAB 59
study, it was found that the prey consumption
ability of fishes increased with the body size
and dependent on sex. The female fish
consumed more number of mosquito larvae
than male fish. It was also observed that the
larval consumption rate was increased with the
fish kept in social condition compared to the
fish kept in solitary state. In the present
experiment, physico chemical analysis of
water was also carried out and at the 0th h, the
water temperature, pH, DO, ammonia and
carbon dioxide were ranged between 27.2-27.6
⁰C, 7.1-7.3, 7.27-7.67 mg/l, 0.007 - 0.012 mg/l
and 1- 1.09 mg/l respectively. After 24th h the
water temperature, pH, DO, ammonia and
carbon dioxide were ranged between 27.2-
27.6 ⁰C, 6.9 - 7.2, 5.03- 5.33 mg/l, 0.018 -
0.02 mg/l and 1.04 - 1.12 mg/l respectively.
The statistical analysis performed by One way
ANOVA (p<0.05) by using Tukey’s HSD test.
The mean mosquito larvae consumption
among all the groups revealed that there was
no significant difference between the group T2
and T3, but there was a significant difference
among rest of the treatments T1, T4 and T5
(Fig 3).
DISCUSSION
In the present study, platy was considered as
an efficient biocontrol agent against the
mosquito larvae because of its small size and
higher consumption of mosquito larvae. Small
sized fish are suitable for mosquito control and
it was detected by the calculation of predatory
index of Oreochromis mossambicus38. In the
present study, it was observed that female
platy consumed more number of mosquito
larvae compared to male platy. This may be
due to the larger size of the female platy
compared to male. This can also be seen in the
study of Manna et al.24 who reported that the
prey consumption of the predator varied with
the size of fish. Cavalcanti et al.9 also found
that the efficacy of larvivorus fish depends on
its weight and sex. This is supported by
Awoyemi et al.5 and Saleeza et al.35 who
found that female guppies (P. reticulata)
consumed more mosquito larvae than male
guppies due their larger size.In the present
study, it was observed that single female platy
consumed more mosquito larvae than the
group that contained two males. This may be
because of the larger size of the female fish.
This is also supported by findings of
Elias et al.12 who reported that female guppies
consumed nearly double the quantity of Culex
larvae than males. In the present study, higher
mosquito larvae consumption rate was
observed in the platy kept socially than kept
alone. This may be due to the increased chance
of predator-prey encounter rate which would
encourage the predator to consume more prey2,
37. In the present study, female platy
consumed more mosquito larvae compared to
male platy. This may be due to higher
requirement of food during growth phase of
female compared to male. In the present study,
it was found that fish consumed more larvae
when two female or male fishes were exposed
to prey than when only one male fish was
exposed. This result is supported by the
observations of Saleeza et al.35 who reported
that two male guppy fish consumed more
mosquito larvae than single male guppy fish.
Anogwih and Makanjuola2 documented low
foraging behaviour in guppies when a single
guppy fish is exposed to the mosquito larvae.
However, when two fish are exposed to
mosquito larvae, competition between the two
fish and increased chance of predator-prey
encounter rate may contribute by increasing
their foraging behaviour. In the present study,
it was also observed that mosquito larvae
feeding rate of single female platy was higher
compared to the group contained two male
platy. This may be due to larger size of female
fish and also can consume nearly double the
quantity of mosquito larvae than males12. It
was also found that the single male and single
female consumed an average of 124.7 and
271.7 mosquito larvae in 24 h respectively
which was higher when compared to guppy as
reported by Elias et al.12 who observed that on
an average, a female guppy consumed 54.9
mosquito larvae / day and male guppy
consumed 27 larvae / day. The water quality is
an important part of aquaculture system and
any deterioration in water quality causes stress

Surendranath et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (2): 57-64 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051
Copyright © March-April, 2018; IJPAB 60
in fish and that may lead to diseases4. In the
present experiment, water quality parameters
were analyzed at 0th h and at 24th h. The
physico-chemical parameter such as water
temperature ranged between 27.2 - 27.6 ⁰C at
0th h and 27.2- 27.6 ⁰C at 24th h. The water
temperature was in the range that platy can
tolerate because it is a eurythermal fish with a
critical thermal maximum over 40 °C and
critical thermal minimum of 9.6 °C32. The pH
was in the range between 7.1-7.4 at 0th h and
7.0-7.2 at 24th h. There was a slight decrease in
pH at 24th h, because metabolism in fish might
released metabolites to water and decreased
the pH. But the pH was in the range of 6.7-9.0
which is more suitable for fish culture 11, 36.
The DO was in the range between 7.67-7.27
mg/l at 0th h and 5.03-5.33 mg/l at 24th h.
There was a decrease in DO at 24 h and this
was because fish required DO for aerobic
metabolism 40. Bhatnagar et al.7 reported that
DO level >5ppm is essential to support good
fish production and the desired concentration
of DO in water should be in the range of 5 to
15 mg/l 8. The ammonia was in the range
between 0.007-0.012 mg/l at 0th h and 0.018-
0.02 mg/l at 24th h. There was a slight increase
in ammonia in all the tanks at 24 h because the
quantity of ammonia released through fish
metabolite is proportional to the feeding rate
41. The values obtained in this study are within
the safe range6, 30, 39 and according to Abdalla
& MacNabb1 the lethal concentration of
unionized ammonia for fish varies between
0.32 - 3.1 mg/l. The carbon dioxide (CO2) was
in the range between 1 - 1.09 mg/l at 0th h and
1.04 - 1.12 mg/l at 24th h. Fish consumed DO
and released CO2 during respiration and this
might have contributed for an increase of CO2
in all the tanks. The CO2 values recorded
during the present investigation were in the
safer limit, as the free CO2 in water to support
good fish population should be less than 5
mg/l 6 and also fish can tolerate concentrations
of CO2 as high as 10 ppm provided DO
concentrations are higher 39.The statistical
analysis performed by One way ANOVA
(p<0.05) by using Tukey’s HSD test, for the
mean mosquito larvae consumption among all
the groups revealed that there was no
significant difference between the group T2
and T3. This indicates that two male platy can
consume nearly the same amount of mosquito
larvae as single female platy. Thus, single
large female platy is better in controlling
mosquito larvae than using two small male
platy. But there is a significant difference
among rest of the treatments T1, T4 and T5
(Fig. 3).
Table 1: Details of average length (cm), weight (g) and number of larvae consumed by each group
Sl No.
Fish
Experiment
Average
length (cm)
Average
weight (g)
Average larvae
consumed
1
Male platy
T1
4.03
1.31
124.7
2
Female platy
T2
4.13
1.58
271.7
3
2 Male platy
T3
3.9
1.19
251
4
Male platy with Female platy
T4
3.97
1.41
427.3
5
2 Female platy
T5
4.2
1.46
579.3
Table 2: Details of different water quality parameters recorded at 0th hour
0th Hour
PARAMETERS
Groups
Male platy
Female
platy
2 Male
platys
Male platy
with Female
platy
2 Female
platys
Temperature at 0 h (⁰ C)
27.2
27.4
27.4
27.3
27.6
pH at 0 h
7.3
7.1
7.1
7.2
7.1
Dissolve oxygen at 0 h (mg/l)
7.27
7.32
7.67
7.63
7.6
Ammonia at 0 h (mg/l)
0.012
0.009
0.009
0.008
0.007
Carbon dioxide at 0 h (mg/l)
1.09
1
1.03
1.02
1.04

Surendranath et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (2): 57-64 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051
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Table 3: Details of different water quality parameters recorded at 24th hour
24th Hour
PARAMETERS
Groups
Male
platy
Female
platy
2 Male
platys
Male platy with
Female platy
2 Female
platys
Temperature at 24 h (⁰ C)
27.4
27.6
27.5
27.2
27.5
pH at 24 h
7.2
6.9
7
7.1
6.9
Dissolve oxygen at 24 h (mg/l)
5.1
5.2
5.33
5.15
5.03
Ammonia at 24 h (mg/l)
0.018
0.019
0.018
0.019
0.02
Carbon dioxide at 24 h (mg/l)
1.12
1.04
1.07
1.07
1.09
Fig. 1: Relationship between length and weight of platy fish
Fig. 2: Different groups and mosquito larvae consumption rate
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
MALE FEMALE 2 MALE MALE AND
FEMALE 2 FEMALE
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
WEIGHT
LENGTH
0.0
100.0
200.0
300.0
400.0
500.0
600.0
700.0
MALE FEMALE 2 MALE MALE AND
FEMALE 2 FEMALE
Number of larvae consumed
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
LARVAE CONSUMED
CONSUMED

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Copyright © March-April, 2018; IJPAB 62
Fig. 3: Statistical representation of larval consumption among different groups. Different letters indicate
the significant difference (P < 0.05) among the different treatments
CONCLUSION
In the present study, the mosquito larvae
consumption trend was in the following
manner T5>T4>T2>T3>T1. Thus, the present
study demonstrates that platy can potentially
be used as a promising biological control agent
against the mosquito-borne diseases by
controlling mosquito larvae effectively.
Further, efficacy of female platy is higher
compared to male in controlling mosquito
larvae. Therefore, for successful control of
mosquito larvae in water bodies, the
populations of platy containing more females
may be considered.
Acknowledgement
Authors are grateful to Dean (Fisheries), COF,
Mangalore for providing facilities to conduct
this study.
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