POPULATION STRUCTURE, DAMAGE AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR RODENTS IN STORAGE CONDITION
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Date
2023
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Abstract
Laboratory and field experiments were carried out at Rodent Laboratory, Department of Entomology and at different rural co-operative, grocery and rice mill stores of Jorhat district during 2022-23. During the course of the study, species composition along with population fluctuation of different rodent species were recorded from the mentioned three structures. The morphometric measurements were recorded at monthly interval in both summer and winter season for different rodent species from different storage structures. The experimental findings revealed the presence of three rodent species viz., Bandicota bengalensis, Rattus rattus and Mus musculus in all the three rural storage structures considered for the study. Out of the three species, B. bengalensis was the most predominant species recorded with the highest relative abundance (60.42%) in village rice mill store. R. rattus was observed second highest in all the storage structures, but when compared among different structures, the abundance was highest in grocery store (33.60%) and M. musculus was recorded the lowest in all the structures but when compared among itself its incidence was higher in co-operative store (22.17%). Monthly trap index recorded in different structures revealed the presence of rodent population that cause economic losses. No significant differences was recorded in seasonal and monthly changes in body parameters of different rodent species. For the management of rodents, four treatments and one control were applied and cleanliness was considered as an integral component for all the treatments in both village co-operative and grocery stores. Experimental analysis showed the treatment combination of (cleanliness + sherman trap + ecodon) as the best treatment for both village grocery and co-operative stores. The control success through census baiting method in village co-operative stores was found to be superior (73.75%) for (cleanliness + sherman trap + ecodon) followed by (cleanliness + wonder trap + ecodon) where 71.10% control success was recorded. However, both the treatments were found to be statistically at par. For tracking index method, treatment (cleanliness + sherman trap + ecodon) was recorded 53.47% control success which was statistically at par with (cleanliness + wonder trap + ecodon). However, for village grocery stores, the control success through census baiting method was 67.02% in (cleanliness + sherman trap + ecodon) which was statistically at par with (cleanliness + wonder trap + ecodon), but for tracking index method, (cleanliness + sherman trap + ecodon) control success was 76.38% followed by (cleanliness + wonder trap + ecodon). The outcome of the present investigation revealed (cleanliness + sherman trap + ecodon) as the most effective treatment for management of rodents in both the structures.