Wild Ibiza: Carp v Mosquitoes

Published 14 April 2009 Stephen White.

Tags: Ibiza News, Villages

voracious freshwater fish

The Consell of ibiza has come up with the idea of killing two birds with one stone by introducing carp to the island. This voracious freshwater fish – regarded as a pest in many places – eats practically everything and is seen as one way of keeping an even bigger pest, the mosquito, in check.

The first 3 stages of a mosquito's life – egg, larva and pupa – are aquatic, so the more areas of still, fresh water, the more mosquitoes. Ibiza has many, many water storage tanks used to irrigate the fields in dry periods which harbour the mozzies. So when you hear that tell tale zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz in your hotel room at night, you know where your unwelcome room mate has come from!

The introduction of the hungry carp will not only eradicate the mosquitoes but also lots of algae, other insects and snails which block the irrigation system. Consell boffins reckon that this biological warfare against the mozzies will also save farmers about €200 a year in cleaning and maintenance costs.

Just wait until the farmers find out that carp is a popular delicacy in eastern Europe!

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