Animal Type: Fish
Family: Poecilidae
Classification: Regulated

? Samford University, 2005

Mosquito fish http://www.millevolte.com/nativefish17.html

The virtues of the mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis, have been extolled by many mosquito control organizations. However, the species can be a major pest when introduced outside their natural range. In addition to eating mosquito larvae they eat a variety of other insect larvae, zooplankton and aquatic plants. They are aggressive and have been known to feed on eggs, larvae, and juveniles of various native fishes and amphibians. Because of these negative impacts, Gambusia is a regulated species in Washington State, and cannot be introduced without a fish stocking permit. Under current WDFW policy, transfer/stocking permits may only be issued to organized Mosquito Control Districts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and city, county or state health departments, they may not be issued to private individuals. It is prohibited to stock Gambusia in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Grays Harbor, Mason and Thurston and portions of Lewis County that drain into the Chehalis river to protect the Olympic mud minnow.