LARVAL EATING CAPACITY OF INDIGENOUS LARVIVOROUS FISHES AGAINST LARVAE OF CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS SAY IN FIELD OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS IN COUFFO DEPARTMENT IN SOUTH-WESTERN REPUBLIC OF BENIN, WEST AFRICA

Because of problems with insecticide resistance, alternative vector control methods are necessary. These methods include the use of biological control agents, such as larvivorous fishes. This study aimed to study larval eating capacity of indigenous larvivorous fishes against larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus Say in field operational conditions in Couffo department in south-western Republic of Benin, West Africa.Alive local Heterobranchus longifilis fish and alive exotic fish adapted to local life conditions Oreochromis niloticus were bought immediately once catched and carried by car from Agricultural Technical Lyceum of Adjahonmè to two districts which were Dogbo and Djakptomey. Field operational evaluation for larvivorous efficacy was conducted with unfed fishes weighed 30g, 40g and 50g respectively and in sump water in Dogbo district and abandoned rectangular piscicultural basins water in Djakptomey district. The results showed that after the introduction of Oreochromis niloticus fishes of 30g, 40g and 50g respectively in the sump water, the larval eating capacity of these fishes when they measured 50g was the highest. In similar way, after the introduction of Heterobranchus longifilis fishes of 30g, 40g and 50g respectively in the abandoned rectangular piscicultural basin water, the larval eating capacity of these fishes when they measured 30g was the highest. Good results were obtained in field operational conditions regarding the use of the larvivorous fishes against larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus in Couffo department in the current study.