Which among the following fish is introduced in ponds that feeds on mosquitoes larvae to control the insect vectors ?

Gambusia

The correct answer is option (2) -Gambusia

Gambusia, commonly known as mosquito fish, is a small freshwater fish that is introduced in ponds and other water bodies for mosquito control. The introduction of Gambusia is part of biological pest control strategies.

The reason behind introducing Gambusia is its feeding habit. Gambusia are voracious feeders of mosquito larvae. They consume mosquito larvae and pupae, thus helping to control the population of mosquitoes in the water bodies. This method is an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to mosquito control.

The use of Gambusia as a biological control agent is a form of integrated pest management, where natural predators are employed to keep the population of pests, in this case, mosquito larvae, in check. This helps in reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides, which can have adverse effects on the environment.