mosquitofish

American  

[muh-skee-toh-fish] / məˈski toʊˌfɪʃ /

Also mosquito fish

noun

• mosquitofish,
  plural
• mosquitofishes
  plural

1. any of several fishes that feed on mosquito larvae, as Gambusia affinis, found in the southeastern U.S., now introduced into other parts of the world for mosquito control.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mosquitofish
  plural
• mosquitofishes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mosquitofish

First recorded in 1925–30; mosquito + fish

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mosquitofish

The Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District even has its own fish hatchery, where it rears the aptly named Western mosquitofish.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

McNeish, who has examined the fish carcasses since late August, has identified non-native species including bass, sunfish, bullhead catfish and mosquitofish.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2024

But sometime in the 1960s or 1970s, the Western mosquitofish was introduced in a misguided effort to control mosquitos — they eat mosquito larvae, but so do Barrens topminnows.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 21, 2022

When a mosquitofish approached a tadpole, the robot would lurch forward, as if to strike.

From New York Times ● Dec. 16, 2021

Ryan Amick and his colleagues at the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District are fighting the explosion of mosquitoes in Los Angeles this summer with mosquitofish.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2018