The pith and cambium of
young palm stems contain both water and nutrients for the rat.
Some Rat
Pests of Agricultural Plants in Hawaii |
|
Rats* |
The rat is very
prolific. The young rat is sexually mature at 4 months and reproductive
potential is continuous until death. Rat behavior is influenced by thirst,
hunger, sex, maternal instinct, and curiosity. Rats cannot go without water
for more than 48 hours or without food for more than four days. Thirsty or
hungry rats become desperate and are therefore easier to control because they
are less wary. Rats are nocturnal and
tend to become habitual. They have a keen sense of smell and hearing, and a
fair sense of sight with ability to see in the dark. |
Roof rat (Rattus rattus) |
A medium to
large rat, body 5 to 7 inches long. Tail slender and always longer than head
and body combined. Body color varies from grey to jet black; underside grey, grey-white,
or white. Nose sharply pointed, large eyes, large, thin ears; in female, five
pairs of nipples. Expert climber and wire scaler;
frequents cane fields, macadamia nut, coffee, papaya, and banana groves;
nests in attics of buildings, trees, banana bunches, and abandoned burrows of
|
Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans) |
Comparatively
small in size, weighs 2 to 3 ounces, and measures 4 to 5 inches long. The tail is as long as or slightly longer
than head and body combined; bristles along the tail give the appearance of
faint, narrow rings. The body color is cinnamon-brown to cinnamon-buff to
grey with stiff black guard hairs on back and sides; the underside is light
buff or grey. The nose is roundly
pointed, ears rather short, eyes medium size, hind feet dark on
underside. Females have four pairs of
nipples. A field rat, rarely found
near buildings in |
Hosts |
Rats are omnivorous. Among agricultural plants and commodities
they have a wide host range, including fruits, nuts and plant tissues. Rats are also predators. Rats make nests in
large palms. |
Damage |
Rats can damage can kill
or severely injure young palm stems. |
Management |
|
cultural |
Remove access
to food, water, or shelter, or limit rat accessibility; traps; prevent rats
from climbing palm trunks. |
chemical ( |
Rodenticides are the most effective means of controlling large and small
rodent populations. Strict safety
precautions should be used in the preparation, broadcast, or placement and
disposal of poison baits for rodents. |
*Mice could also attack plants
Literature cited: Brennan, Barry M. Rodents and rodent control
in