Food of Mus Musculus, Peromyscus Maniculatus Bairdi and Peromyscus Leucopus in Vigo County, Indiana

Abstract

The foods of 478 house mice, Mus musculus , 444 prairie deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus bairdi and 278 white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus , are analyzed by the habitat of each species and by season. The more important foods of the house mouse were Setaria seeds, lepidopterous larvae, corn, various weed seeds, various animal materials and cultivated crops (corn, wheat, soybeans and sorghum). Among the more important foods of Peromyscus maniculatus bairdi were lepidopterous larvae, wheat seeds, soybeans, weed seeds, animal materials and cultivated foods, especially wheat and soybeans. The more important foods of Peromyscus leucopus were various kinds of seeds, lepidopterous larvae and mast; cultivated foods were not important. Peromyscus leucopus differed in habitat, hence in food habits, from the other two species. Peromyscus maniculatus bairdi and Mus musculus occupied similar habitats and might be expected to eat similar foods; this was not always the case. Seeds of Setaria were heavily eaten by Mus but were usually much less important to P. m. bairdi . In soybean fields, soybeans were heavily eaten by P. m. bairdi but not by Mus ; in wheat fields, wheat seeds were much more heavily eaten by Mus than by P. m. bairdi . In cornfields, corn was much more important to Mus than to P. m. bairdi .