PJB-2009-30
TWO INDIGENOUS AQUATIC WEEDS LEMNA MINOR AND SPIRODELLA SPP., GAVE PROMISING BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF MOSQUITO LARVAE WITH RAINBOW FISH ON FIELD LEVEL IN KARACHI, SINDH, PAKISTAN
RAJPUT MUHAMMED TARIQ1, S. NAIMUL HASAN NAQVI2 AND S.M. NAUSHAD ZAFAR2
Abstract
Two indigenous aquatic weeds Lemna minor (Fam: Lamnaceae) commonly called as common duckweed and Spirodella spp., commonly called as large duckweed were used for the biological control of mosquitoes with local guppy fish also called Rainbow fish Poecellia reticulata in stagnant and polluted dirty water containing commonly Culex spp., and in few cases Anopheles spp., and in very few cases the Aedes spp., where the water became clear after some time or in overhead flown water and/or in pipeline leakage water. Such type of cases has been recorded in Karachi University Campus at BRC building. The plant was used @ 1kg/100m2 and fishes @ one fish/m2 were released in experimental areas. The fishes started their work of predating the mosquito larvae just after few minutes of their release in water. The plants Lemna, Spirodella and fishes supported to each other in symbiotic condition. The plants Lemna and Spirodella covered the surface of water reducing the oviposition area for egg laying mosquitoes; at the same time reducing area for respiration for already existing mosquito larvae in that area and reducing the water covered area by converting dirty water into water vapours through the process of transpiration and used as alternate food for fishes, especially for mosquito controlling fishes. The best and satisfactory results were obtained in 5 weeks depending on area of water, successful plant growth, quantity of plant introduced and number of fishes released in that area. This method not only avoids the use of synthetic chemicals, side effects of the chemicals where used, increase of pollution in water, resistance in the mosquitoes, inducement of chemicals in food chain, wastage of money and time but also provides the less smell, beautiful and pleasant environment for our health by providing plenty of fresh oxygen by the plants in day time. By this way a complete sound and safe control of mosquitoes may be achieved.
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