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.

---

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

Recognizing the threats of habitat loss from farming and development as well as predation by mosquitofish, the Fish and Wildlife Service first proposed listing the Barrens topminnow as endangered in 1977.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 21, 2022

The mosquitofish is not a fussy creature: It can live in filthy bodies of water and has an undiscerning appetite.

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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---