The first two issues have given you a popularization of brown rats and yellow-breasted rats, and in this issue of science, we will talk about the habits and prevention measures of domestic rats. The small house mouse (scientific name: Mus musculus) is a small mouse in the family of rodents, which is widely distributed throughout the country and is a dominant rat species that occurs in the domestic rat second only to the brown rat. Populations are large and destructive. Small house mice are highly adaptable and agile, mainly active in indoor and peri-room environments in residential areas, and are one of the most common domestic rat species. In addition, the small house mouse is not only the ancestor of the world's most used experimental mice, but also one of the main animal infectious sources and animal hosts of zoonotic diseases.
The small size of the mouse is small, with a weight of 12 to 30 grams, a body length of 60-90 mm, a tail length equal to or shorter than the body length, a hind foot length of less than 17 mm, short ears, and anterior fold that does not reach the eye. There are 5 pairs of nipples, 3 pairs of thoraxes, and 2 pairs of groins. The main distinguishing feature of other rat species that are about the same size (such as hadd line rat and Kobayashi mouse) is that the inner side of the upper jaw incisors of the small house mouse has a significant absence from the side. The coat color varies greatly, the dorsal hairs vary from grayish brown to black gray, and the abdominal hairs change from pure white to grayish yellow. The back of the forefoot is dark brown or off-white. The color of the upper parts of the tail hair is darker than the color below.
The population of small house mice is sparse, and female house mice have little reproductive activity to establish a stable population of small house mice. It mainly inhabits and operates in and nearby residential living areas with greater human interference, while in open areas of towns with less human interference, it is often small in number, limited in reproduction, and it is difficult to establish a stable population. So friends who live in these places, don't worry too much.
The small house mouse has a migration habit, the weather warms up from March to April every year, and when spring sowing begins, it moves from housing, warehouses, etc. to farmland, and concentrates on farmland with mature crops in autumn. After the crops are harvested, they are then moved to threshing grounds, under grain and haystacks, and then into houses and warehouses as grain is put into storage. The rats are active day and night, but they are mainly nocturnal, especially in the morning and evening. The baby rat is an omnivore, but mainly plant-based food, especially flour and pasta. The most like to eat a variety of grains and oil seeds, early spring also eat wheat seedlings, bark, vegetables, etc., in the apple storage warehouse, day and night, everywhere, plastic bags small packaging, cartons and other destructive. Sometimes eat less seeds grass seeds and insects, eat small amounts, and the requirements for food moisture conditions are not strict.
The small house mouse is very fertile and can breed all year round, although the wild rat may only have the breeding season from April to September; the breeding rate is higher in spring and autumn, and the winter is low. The baby house mouse can generally reproduce throughout the year, and when the weight is 7 grams, it can mature sexually, and the estrous cycle is 4-6 days long, lasting less than one day; the female will experience a estrus period of up to 12-18 hours after giving birth. Each litter can generally produce 5 to 8 pups, or even as many as 14 cubs.
The house mouse endangers all crops and steals food. The main hazard period is the crop harvest season. When endangered, the plant is generally not bitten off, only the grain is eaten, and the victim plant rarely falls. In residential areas, the harm is very large, pervasive, often biting clothes, food, furniture, books, and other household items can be damaged and contaminated. At the same time, a large number of people's dwellings can spread certain natural epidemic diseases.
Finally, I will introduce you to how to eliminate the small house mouse
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="4" > biological control</h1>
In the wild, small house mice have natural enemies all over the world, including cats, foxes, weasels, stoats, ferrets, large lizards, snakes, eagles, falcons, owls, etc. Increasing the number of natural enemies of small domestic rats on the basis of drug control of rat infestation, such as eagle frame beckoning eagles, stocking shuffle foxes and other methods, is an effective way to control rats.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="11" > environmental control</h1>
Because the living conditions of small house rats are not high, they can inhabit in small crevices, and a small amount of food can maintain life, therefore, ecological rat extermination measures have a greater impact on it, but the work must be meticulous and in-depth, such as indoor no holes, no gaps, often remove debris, sort out drawers, bookcases, etc.; otherwise, it can still maintain a certain number.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="13" > instrumental decompression</h1>
The small house mouse type is light, the sensitivity of the mouse catching tool used must be high, the mouse clip is small, and the placement site is less than 2m; the cage mesh should be small when using the rat cage. The methods used by the masses such as bowl buckles and altar traps are also effective; they are captured with sticky mouse glue or sticky fly paper, which is safe and effective.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="15" > other methods of rat removal</h1>
Small house rats are mostly gathered under the straw pile in autumn, which can be opened to hunt and kill; mechanical hunting, general mouse catching tools are applicable, and the mesh hole cannot be too large when using the rat catching cage. The gaps that can be hidden by indoor house mice are blocked; indoor cabinets and boxes are also raised, and they are some distance away from the wall, and furniture, cabinets, granaries, etc. are strictly closed, leaving no gaps. The haystacks outdoors are raised. Small house mice have nowhere to hide, but are easy to find and destroy. Farmland should be uprooted from unnecessary weeds.
If you find such rats in your daily life, remember to find our pest control specialist Oh, we professionally and efficiently solve your problem!