During the summers of 1972–73, 10 fish species were evaluated as predators against larvae of the dark rice field mosquito, Psorophora confinnis (Lynch-Arribalzaga), near Stuttgart, Ark. Stocking rates were 0.02, 0.03, and 0.06 fish/ft 2 . At the lowest stocking rate green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque, reduced larval numbers by 89.7% and were significantly more effective than adult mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard). The white amur, Ctenopharynogodon idella Valenciennes, was intermediate in effectiveness when compared with the above. At 0.03 fish/ft 2 , green sunfish reduced larvae by 99.2% and were significantly more efficient than juvenile mosquitofish, which had little effect on the larval population. At the 0.06 fish/ft 2 rate mosquitofish; white amur; Israeli carp, Cyprinus carpio L.; and hybrids (Israeli carp × goldfish) were significantly more effective than bigmouth buffalo, Ictiobus cyprinellus (Valenciennes); black buffalo, Ictiobus niger (Rafinesque); goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.); or juvenile mosquitofish. Recovery counts of fish indicated that fish survived under natural conditions in Arkansas rice fields.
