mosquitofish

American  

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

Also mosquito fish

noun

plural

mosquitofish,

plural

mosquitofishes

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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Etymology

Origin of mosquitofish

First recorded in 1925–30; mosquito + fish

Example Sentences

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

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

The robot not only freaked the mosquitofish out, but scarred them with such lasting anxiety that their reproduction rates dropped; evidence that could have long term implications for the species’ viability, according to the paper.

From New York Times

Other fish, such as the banded killifish and the mosquitofish, have expanded their range in the Potomac, also probably an indicator of climate change.

From Washington Post

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