mosquito fish

noun

: either of two small, surface-feeding, freshwater fishes (Gambusia affinis and G. holbrooki of the family Poeciliidae) native to Central and North America that are live-bearers and are widely introduced outside their native range to control mosquitoes by feeding on their larvae

York County has been populating water sources and backyard ponds with mosquito fish, a small guppy-like swimmer that devours mosquito larvae, for more than 25 years.

—Amanda Williams

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

When the mosquito fish went to eat the native species, the robo-bass would intervene, scaring them off. —Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 17 Dec. 2021

The Mosquito and Vector Control District provides free home inspections and has mosquito fish available for pick-up and delivery. —Hannah Holzer, sacbee, 25 June 2018

In its battle with mosquitoes, the county is relying more and more on the eastern mosquito fish, a species of freshwater fish with a taste for mosquito larvae, Deutsch said. —Stephen Hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, 24 May 2018

Cypress Spring, a fenced-in area with a small body of water that will be home to tadpoles, dragonfly larvae, mosquito fish and macroinvertebrates. —Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Feb. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above