Mosquito control in private dams

A few local fish species are highly effective with assisting in mosquito control. These fish eat mosquito larvae and control the algae that usually provide protection to larvae.

It you are looking at introducing a species to assist in mosquito control it is essential you select a local fish species appropriate for your drainage division.

Mosquito control species for drainage divisions

East Coast drainage divisions

North East Queensland (Jacky Jacky Creek to Mossman River):

• Cairns rainbowfish (Cairnsichthys rhombosomoides)
• Banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia trifasciata)
• Eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida splendida)
• McCulloch’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia maccullochi)
• Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus)
• Threadfin rainbowfish (Iriatherina werneri)
• Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
• Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa)

Central Queensland (Barron River to Boyne River):

• Eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida splendida)
• Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus)
• Pacific blue-eye (Pseudomugil signifier)
• Agassiz’s perchlet / olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizi)
• Spotted blue-eye (Pseudomugil gertrudae)
• McCulloch’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia maccullochi)
• Pennyfish (Denariusa bandata)
• Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
• Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa)

Southern Queensland (Baffle Creek to Tweed River):

• Agassiz’s perchlet / olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizi)
• Duboulay’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia duboulayi)
• Ornate rainbowfish (Rhadinocentrus ornatus)
• Bug-eyed goby (Redigobius bikolanus)
• Marjorie’s hardyhead (Craterocephalus marjoriae)
• Firetail gudgeon (Hypseleotris galii)
• Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus)
• Pacific blue-eye (Pseudomugil signifer)
• Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
• Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa)
• Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni)

Murray–Darling drainage division

• Agassiz’s perchlet / olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizi)
• Murray River rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis)
• Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni)
• Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus)
• Western carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri)
• Darling River hardyhead (Craterocephalus amniculus)
• Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa)

Gulf of Carpentaria drainage division

• Chequered rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida inornata)
• Banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia trifasciata)
• Spotted blue-eye (Pseudomugil gertrudae)
• Delicate blue-eye (Pseudomugil tenellus)
• Macleay’s glassfish (Ambassis macleayi)
• Pennyfish (Denariusa bandata)
• Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)

Lake Eyre drainage division

• Desert rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida tatei)
• Mueller’s perchlet (Ambassis mulleri)
• Western carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri)
• Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni)

Bulloo–Bancannia drainage division

• Desert rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida tatei)
• Northwest glassfish (Ambassis spp.)
• Western carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri)

Hatcheries for stocking native fish for mosquito control