Abstract
Distribution pattern and relative abundance of the agricultural rodent pests of rain-fed and irrigated areas of district Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were recorded from April 2011 to November 2013 using wire mesh live traps. A total of 350 rodents (269 Rattus rattus and 81 Mus musculus) were captured under 2268 trap nights (trap success: 0.15). Regression of daily captures on cumulative captures revealed an estimate of 350 rodents from all the sampled structures with an average of 21.8 rodents per crop field. House rats (R. rattus; 76.8% of captures) were numerically dominant in almost all types of agricultural fields, and were significantly different from the mice (Mus musculus; 23.1% of captures). Both species were found together in some fields. The sex ratio revealed that males outnumbered the females in both of the reported species.
Highlights
Rodent pests are living with man either in agriculture or in residence and will not leave their company in future
The present study was conducted in 16 agricultural fields (4 each in Potatoes, maize in rain-fed and irrigated, rice in irrigated areas) of district Swat, Pakistan from April 2011 to November 2013
Significant difference was found between the number of rats and mice in growth stages of the crops studied while the difference in between the population density of rats and mice were not significantly different in rain-fed and irrigated areas, in crop fields studied, male and females rode
Summary
Rodent pests are living with man either in agriculture or in residence and will not leave their company in future These pests threaten livelihoods directly, and by forcing the affected spend resources on trying to eliminate the infestation. Rodents are characterized by rapid sexual maturity, short gestation period, large litter size, opportunistic foraging behavior and gnawing teeth (Aplin et al, 2003).
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