Laboratory testing of larvivorous fish Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) predation ability to copper-treated Anopheles stephensi larvae: An alternative method for vector control under low concentration of copper

Abstract

Utilizing larvivorous fish is a promising approach to biological control of malaria. In our laboratory, we have tested fish predation ability to Anopheles stephensi larvae under low concentration of copper. We found that at 0.26 ppm larvae were negatively affected, especially in terms of diving ability, which made them easier for the larvivorous fish to catch. This concentration was safe for medaka (Oryzias latipes). It needs further study whether it is possible to use this fish together with low concentrations of copper in the limited area where mosquitoes breed.