Field trails were conducted in February, 2005 to evaluate the field
performance of three rodenticides in controlling colonies of the Libyan Jird,
Meriones libycus at semi arid lands east to Damascus and Homs cities. 2% Zinc
Phosphide wheat baits,
0.005% Brodifacoum ready to use baits and Aluminum
Phosphide (Fumigant) were tested. The active burrows were treated by
inserting ten grams of the poisoned baits or by one tablet (3g) of Aluminume
Phosphide.
The efficacy of treatments was calculated depending on the number of
active burrows before and after treatment. Obvious reduction in burrowing
activity was registered in Zinc Phosphide, Brodifacoum, Aluminume Phosphide
treatments; 95.9%, 91.9% and 81.9% respectively, in comparison to 18.5% in
the untreated control. The difference between Zinc Phosphide and Aluminume
Phosphide efficacy was not significant, while it was significant between these
two rodenticides and Brodifacoum.
Symptoms of direct poisoning were observed on mammalian predators in
the study area after 24 hours of Zinc Phosphide treatment, indicating serious
damage to the non target species of rodents' natural enemies in spite of the high
potency of this acute rodenticide.
The results suggest that inserting one gram only of Zinc Phosphide baits in
each active burrow, seems to be adequate to achieve high rate of efficacy
against the Libyan jird in comparison to the efficacy achieved when 10 grams
were inserted.
Field trials were carried out during winter and spring of 2001, to evaluate
the efficacy of a fumigant poison, and the preliminary field performance of two
commercial formulations of a single dose anticoagulant rodenticides, against
the mole rat S
palax leucodon at different locations in Syria. The efficacy was
determined by measuring the mole rat activity to close opened holes made in
the burrow system, before and after the treatment. Aluminum Phosphide
applications were conducted during January - March where the soil humidity
was high after rainfall. Two holes, close to the animal’s nest, in each burrow
system were treated by inserting two tablets of Phostoxine (6 g) and reclosed
firmly with soil to prevent escape of the released gas. The means of efficacy
were 92.51%, 92.01%, 86.60% and 88.18% in the southern, costal, northern
and the central regions respectively. No significant difference was found
between the means of efficacy against mole rats in cultivated and uncultivated
locations; 88.42% and 91.23% respectively. Ready for use formulations of the
single dose second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides were used in April
and May; where the soil humidity was low, in southern Syria (where it was
difficult to use a fumigant poison). Two holes, in each burrow system, were
treated by inserting 14 g of the formulations. The efficacy of Brodifacoum
application caused 100% reduction in the activity, whereas it was only 50% for
Flocoumafen.