Busch, M. and Burroni, NE. Foraging activity of commensal Mus musculus in semicaptivity conditions. Effect of predator odours, previous experience and moonlight

BUSCH, MARÍA; BURRONI NORA E

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

Lugar: LOndres; Año: 2015 vol. 71 p. 1599 - 1604

1526-498X

AbstractBACKGROUND: Musmusculus is a pest in urban and rural habitats where it consumes and contaminates food and may transmitdiseases to human and domestic animals. Its control by anticoagulants is partially effective because of aversive behaviours andresistance. In this context,wewanted to assess the potential of the use of predator odours as repellents in experimental feedingtrials usingurineand faeces of domestic catsand faeces of geoffroyi cat, awild small felid that is one of themain rodent predatorsin the study area.We also assessed the effect of previous experience and moonlight on foraging activity.RESULTS: We did not find an aversive response to cat odours in Mus musculus individuals. There was a trend to consume foodin the same feeding stations over time, and the visit rate was lower in periods with high moonlight than in periods with lowmoonlight.CONCLUSIONS: Predator odours did not seem to be useful as rodent repellents, but maintaining illumination may lower rodentforaging activity. As rodentsmaintain their feeding sites over time, toxic baitsmay be more efficiently placed at sites previouslyknown to be used by rodents.© 2014 Society of Chemical IndustryKeywords: Mus musculus; pest; aversive behaviour; odours; predators; foraging activity