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Glite Dictionary
mosquitofish

mosquitofish

1 7.9
A small silver freshwater fish that eats mosquito larvae to control mosquitoes
  • noun
  • /mɒsˈkiːtəˌfɪʃ/
  • US
: pez mosquito
  • Many ponds in Florida have mosquitofish to control larvae.

Examples

  • The mosquitofish helps reduce mosquito populations.

  • Mosquitofish are often found in warm, shallow waters near the edges of lakes and streams.

  • A single mosquitofish can eat hundreds of mosquito larvae each day.

  • The city introduced mosquitofish into local ponds to combat mosquito populations.

  • Mosquitofish are commonly used in ponds to control mosquitofish larvae effectively.

  • The local park installed a pond with mosquitofish to help manage the mosquito population.

  • In warm weather, mosquitofish thrive in shallow waters, playing a key role in reducing mosquito larvae.

Synonyms

Gambusia
vsmosquitofish
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A small fresh water fish that eats baby mosquitoes in ponds

is the common name for a single species rather than a whole genus
Gambusia affinis
vsmosquitofish
  • Specialized
1 7.8

A small silvery freshwater fish that eats baby mosquitoes and helps control them in ponds and wetlands

is the common name used generally rather than the specific species label

Surface Forms

mosquitofish singular
mosquitofish plural

Morphology

mosquitofish = mosquito + fish (transparent) = mosquito + fish

The compound denotes a fish associated with mosquitoes (used to control them), and the meaning is directly composed from 'mosquito' + 'fish'.

Etymology

Mosquitofish combines mosquito and fish, and it names a small fish that eats baby mosquitoes. The part mosquito comes from Spanish and means 'little fly', so the name gives a clear picture of a fish used to fight mosquitoes.