Evaluation of appropriate method for application of conspecific, urine in plain and poison bait acceptance for the control of Bandicota bengalensis (Gray and Hardwicke) in the fields.

摘要

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the appropriate method for application of conspecific urine in plain and poison bait acceptance for the control of Bandicota bengalensis in fields. A set of 4 laboratory cages were attached to each other in the shape of a T-maze, i.e. central cage and arms I, II and III. In the control, a mixture of broken wheat, powdered milk, powdered sugar and groundnut oil (WMSG, 85:5:5:5) was placed on a piece of paper in I and II whereas III had WMSG in a bait station. Treatments comprised: WMSG mixed with 0.5% opposite sex urine on a piece of paper vs. WMSG applied on a piece of paper vs. WMSG without urine on a piece of paper placed in the bait station (A); WMSG on a piece of filter paper treated with opposite sex urine vs. WMSG on a piece of simple paper vs. WMSG on a piece of paper in a bait station (B); bait station with WMSG mixed with 0.5% opposite sex urine on a piece of paper vs. bait station with WMSG on filter paper treated with opposite sex urine vs. bait station with WMSG on a piece of simple paper. Generally, B. bengalensis dragged the paper on which WMSG bait was placed but consequently made more visits to the arm in which urine was mixed with the bait material..