Dietary habits of lesser bandicoot rat (Bandicota Bengalensis) in an agro-ecosystem, Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan

Abstract

Dietary habits of bandicoot rats (bandicota bengalensis) were investigated in the agricultural crops of the Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan by analysing stomach contents. The research activities were conducted in major field crops including wheat-groundnut and in the fallow lands during non-crop season at the field boundaries. The specimens were captured from the fields using kill/snap traps, and dissected to collect their stomach samples for laboratory analysis. Light microscopic slides of the plant material were recovered from stomach samples and the reference materials were collected from the field. Results revealed that the bandicoot rat predominantly fed upon cultivated crops during cropping season but consumed wild vegetation during non-cropping season. There was no significance difference between summer and winter diets. Most frequently consumed crop food items were wheat (Triticum aestivum; 28.57%), groundnut (Arachis hypogea; 11.26%), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor; 10.17%), chickpea (Cicer arietinum; 9.52%), maize (Zea mays; 6.49%), millet (Pennisetum glaucum; 5.84%), barley (Hordeum vulgare; 4.98%) and mustard (Brassica campestris; 4.98%). Among wild vegetation were consumed khbal gha (Cynodon dactylon; 7.79%), baron dhab (Demostachya bipinnata; 7.36%) and Prickly flower (Achyranthes aspera; 3.03%). The study concludes that, in addition to consuming wheat and groundnut crops, the Lesser bandicoot rat also subsists on grasses, weeds, and some fodder crops, as important component of its diet in agro-ecosystem of the Pothwar Plateau.

Antifertility effects of quinestrol in male lesser bandicoot rat, Bandicota bengalensis, and potential in managing rodent population under field conditions

“…Among several rodent species, Bandicota bengalensis (Gray, 1835) has been reported throughout Southeast Asia (Singla & Parshad 2010;Singleton et al 2021). Besides causing serious damage to food crops (Singla & Babbar 2012;Munawar et al 2019;Baig et al 2021), it is also involved in spread of several diseases and is a host of parasites (Singla et al 2008(Singla et al , 2016Meerburg et al 2009;Brar et al 2021). Various methods are applied worldwide to reduce losses caused by rodent pests, but the use of rodenticides as a lethal method is considered the most practical, economical, and effective (Buckle & Eason 2015;Witmer 2019).…”

“…2019; Baig et al. 2021), it is also involved in spread of several diseases and is a host of parasites (Singla et al. 2008, 2016; Meerburg et al.…”