RODENTS!

INTRODUCTION

• Rodents are mammals, characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws.
•  About forty percent of all mammal species are rodents, and they are found in vast numbers on all continents except Antarctica. They are the most diversified mammalian order and can be found in a variety of terrestrial habitats, including human-made environments. 
• There are species that are semi-aquatic.Well known rodents include mice, rats, squirrel, porcupines, beavers, guinea pigs, and hamsters.

TYPES OF RODENTS (RATS)

1. Norway Rats (Rattusnorvegicus)

Appearance

•Up to 40 cm in length, tail shorter than the head and body.

•350 –500g in weight.

•Blunt nose, small ears and a thicker body when compared to the Roof Rat.

Lifecycle

•7 –8 young per litter; 3 –6 litters a year.

•Gestation period of about 3 weeks.

•10 –12 weeks from birth to sexual maturity.

Habits

•Usually ground living and burrowing, but sometimes climbs.

•The only species to occur in sewers in Malaysia.

•Preferred food is cereals.

•Will eat around 30g of food a day and drink 60ml.

Roof Rats (Rattusrattus)

Appearance

•16 –24 cm in length, with a tail longer than the head and body.

•150 –200g in weight.

•Pointed nose, large ears, slender body when compared to the Norway Rat .

Lifecycle

•5 –10 young per litter; 3 –6 litters a year.

•Gestation period of about 3 weeks.

•12 –16 weeks from birth to sexual maturity.

Habits

•Rare in Malaysia. Appearance confined mainly to ports.

•Often climbs, agile, rarely burrowing and rarely outdoors in Malaysia.

•Preferred food is moist fruits.

•Will eat around 15g of food a day and drink 15ml.

House mice (Musmusculus)


Appearance
•7 –9.5cm in length, with a tail around the same length.
•12 –30g in weight.
•Small feet & head and large eyes & ears.
Lifecycle
•4 –16 young per litter; 7 –8 litters a year.
•Gestation period of about 3 weeks.
•8 –12 weeks from birth to sexual maturity.
Habits
•Usually ground living and burrowing, but often climbs.
•Preferred food is cereals.
•Will eat around 3g of food a day and can survive without any additional water.
•They will drink up to 3ml a day if their diet is particularly dry.


PROBLEMS

•Spread serious diseases, including salmonellosis (food poisoning), leptospirosis, rickettsialpoxand lymphocytic choriomeningitis.
•Carry fleas, ticks and other ectoparasites, potentially spread diseases, such as bubonic plague.

•Consume or contaminate about 20 percent of the world’s food supply.
•Gnaw, expensive structural damage, start fires if they gnaw on electrical wires.
•Cause a great deal of anxiety for occupants (people and pets) of infested buildings.

•Pose serious risks for food facilities. Single rodent can cause fines, poor inspection scores, disgruntled employees and lost business.


RODENTS CONTROL MEASURE

1. eliminating sources of food
2. eliminating breeding and nesting place
3. rat-proofing building and others structure
4. kill them