Effects of molluscicide baits on field populations of house mice |
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Authors: | G. J. Mutze D. J. Hubbard |
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Affiliation: | a Animal and Plant Control Commission, GPO Box 1671, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia;b Pirsa Rural Solutions, PO Box 469, Murray Bridge, SA 5253, Australia |
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Abstract: | Two trials were carried out to test the effects of field applications of snail baits on populations of house mice (Mus domesticus) inhabiting cereal-cropping fields during a mouse plague in South Australia. In the first trial, grain based pellets containing 2% w/w active ingredient methiocarb, were laid in trails across fields before crops were sown. The second tested the effect of whole wheat grains treated with 1% w/w methiocarb when broadcast across maturing barley crops. Treatment effects were estimated by comparison with untreated control plots. In the methiocarb-treated wheat trial, comparison was also made with 0.3% w/w strychnine-treated wheat treatments. Methiocarb baiting reduced estimated mouse numbers by 0–46%. Surviving mice did not accept the excess bait material available. In contrast, strychnine-treated wheat reduced estimated mouse numbers by 86–94%. These trials indicate that methiocarb is not likely to be a useful field rodenticide. Furthermore, the consumption of bait by mice is not likely to jeopardise snail control operations. However, methiocarb baits could cause sufficient mortality to pose a threat to rare or endangered granivorous rodents inhabiting agricultural fields. |
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Keywords: | Methiocarb Molluscicide Mus domesticus Rodenticide Strychnine South Australia |
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