Preliminary observations on rodent damage to greenhouses.
Raj G. G., Srihari K.
Author Affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bangalore 560 065, India.
Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems 6 : 74-75
Abstract : In a preliminary study in 1998, daily observations on burrow systems, rodent populations and the nature and extent of damage to the greenhouses of the Division of Horticulture of the University of Agricultural Sciences at the GKVK farm, Bangalore, India, were recorded for 6 days. The greenhouses contained mangoes, Capsicum (red chillies or sweet peppers cv. California Wonder) or no crop. Bandicota bengalensis (lesser Indian mole rat) and Tatera indica (the South Indian gerbil) were found to be causing damage to the infrastructure, e.g. coolant material, water pipes and polycloth, but only in greenhouses containing a crop. Damage to drip irrigation pipes resulted in water loss, creating a potential attractant for further pests, such as bandi coots. Red chilli plants suffered 0.6-1% damage, while 4% of sweet pepper plants were damaged. Economic losses were evaluated.