Rodents
Pest Library
General Information
There are approximately more than 2000 species of rodents available in world. Well known Rodents are mice, rats, squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, chinchillas, porcupines, beavers, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and capybaras Rabbits, hares, and pikas. But Only few of them cause great damage to human life and property.
Rodents carries various dangerous disease which can be threat to human life. It is found out that most rodents carry hantaviruses including Puumala, Dobrava, and Saaremaa viruses which can infect humans. Rats are also responsible for spreading bubonic plague, also known as the “Black Death”. Although fleas are primarily responsible for infecting humans, they were originally infected with the plague by feeding on the blood of rats.
Rodents are serious pest to agricultural and food store by human. It is estimated that in 2003 the amount of rice lost to mice and rats in Asia was enough to feed approximately 200 million people.
Identification
Colour
Brown or Grey
Size
Length- 11 inch, weight: 140 to 500 g
Eyes
They have weak eyesight
Droppings
Droppings have blunt ends and are 2 cm. Fresh droppings are soft and dark in colour.
Nose
Rats have acute hearing, are sensitive to ultrasound, and possess a very highly developed olfactory sense.
Habitat & Diet
Norway rats burrow extensively in soil and are excellent swimmers and good climbers. They are often referred to as brown rat, sewer rat or water rat. They usually nest in basements and lower portions of buildings. They are also found out in outside area, fields, wooded area and empty properties. These species are omnivorous and eat meat, fish, vegetable, cereals. They eat almost everything human eat.
Threat to Human as a pest
Norway rats may carry a number of pathogens, which can result in disease, including Weil’s disease, rat bite fever, cryptosporidiosis, viral hemorrhagic fever, Q fever and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. They can cause significant damage to human properties by chewing food structure, contaminating food.
Identification
Colour
Varies from Black to Brownish grey.
Size
Body is slender. Length – 17 to 20 cm, Weight – 170 to 340 g.
Droppings
Have pointed end. 1 cm in length.
Tail
Hairless and longer than the head and body.
Habitat & Diet
Roof rats usually enter and nest in upper portions of buildings. They are able to swing, jump and climb. They are good climber May nest outside in trees and similar vegetation. They prefer upper shelter, but can nest on ground if necessary. They are vegetarian, they prefer fruits, leaf, nuts, seed, grain.
Threat to Human as a pest
These species are high climbers therefore they are capable of gaining the entry in the building through entry holes of vents, cables, Squeezing through small holes. When shortages of food these rats generally chew cables, damage furniture.
Roof rat can carry number of disease through their dropping, mouth. They carry number of pathogens which can lead to Plague, Wiles disease, Typhus. They often contaminate the food.
Identification
Colour
Greyish brown
Size
Body is small and slender. Length 5 to 9 cm, Weight- 18 to 28 g.
Droppings
Dropping have pointed ends. And small (.64cm). Average dropping per day is 50.
Ears
Large in proportionate to its size
Habitat & Diet
House Mouse can be found everywhere in any country from urban to rural area. Due to their smaller in size comparatively rats they can be frequently found in building. They are able to gain access through small holes. They prefer food grain, seeds, vegetable, fruits, meat, nuts.
Threat to Human as a pest
House mouse can carry number disease and bacteria. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis disease can be transmitted by mice. They are the most common rodents to infest the human building. They contaminate the food supplies and also carry other pest such as fleas, ticks, lice.
Identification
Colour
Dark grey colour with long black hair
Size
Length: 28 cm, Weight: Average 600g
Habitat
Greater Bandicoot Rat are large species of rat found in Asia. They are large and aggressive when disturbed. They often occupy outskirts of human dwelling and generally found in garden, compound, and near garbage.
Threat to Human as a pest
These species spread numerus bacteria through their hair. They are strong burrower. Their burrowing habit can cause great damage to grounds and flooring to any property structure. They can also burrow through brick and masonry work. They are serious threat to poultry farm.
Identification
Colour
Dark or Pale Brow, Blackish
Size
Length- 40 cm, Weight: Average: 350 g.
Habitat & Diet
They are known in inhabit houses in villages and rural area. Their diet is grains, fruit, and invertebrates.
Threat to Human as a pest
Rats, Mice, Bandicoot are all capable for transmitting disease to human being. They pose great danger to human society. Lesser Bandicoot rats are very aggressive rat. They also very aggressive burrower and has been reported to make tunnel in concrete cellars. They are often destroying cultivated crops in the field.