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Rats & Mice
Latin Name: Mus musculus
Common Name: House Mouse
Latin Family Name: Muridae
Other Names: Field mouse
Pest Details
Origin:
This species originated in Eastern Asia in arid grasslands, allowing it to evolve the ability to survive without needing frequent water. It now occurs throughout the world.
Biology:
A prolific breeder, the House Mouse is sexually mature at 2 months old, has a gestation period of only 3 weeks, and averages 5 to 8 young per litter, but potentially up to 15. Each female may give birth to 8 litters. The life span can be from 2 to 3 years. The House Mouse is a nibbler, consuming small quantities of food at many feedings. They are “curious”, and tend to investigate new objects that are placed in their environment. Favored foods may be grains, dried fruits, nuts, and sweet materials. They are known reservoirs of diseases such as rickettsial pox (mites), typhus (fleas), and filth problems
Latin Name: Rattus norvegicus
Common Name: Norway Rat
Latin Family Name: Muridae
Other Names: Brown rat, ship rat, wharf rat, sewer rat, gray rat, barn rat, burrowing rat, water rat, common rat, house rat, migratory rat, wander-rat
Pest Details
Origin:
Evolved in Central Asia, but reached Europe in the 1700’s, the United States later that century, and now it is found throughout the world. It is a rodent of cooler climates, but now also infests many tropical environments as well, primarily in the seaport areas.
Biology:
This rat is commonly sold as a “pet rat”, and has been bred for white coloration as “lab rats” as well, leading to the occurrence of white and brown marked races. It is primarily a ground dweller, although it can climb very well, and prefers to reside in burrows. It swims very well and often lives in sewers and other underground water systems. It is primarily a nocturnal animal, and will
Latin Name: Rattus rattus
Common Name: Roof Rat
Latin Family Name: Muridae
Other Names: Black rat, ship rat, house rat, tree rat, climbing rat, white-bellied rat. Also as two subspecies called the fruit rat (Rattus rattus frugivorous) and the Alexandrine Rat (R. r. alexandrinus).
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to forested areas in Southeast Asia, but transported into Europe by caravans as early as the 11th century. It was the common structural rat in Europe during the Black Death episode in the 14th Century. It arrived in the United States somewhere in the 1500’s, although this is not certain. In the U.S. it is not as widespread as the Norway Rat, generally staying within 100 miles of a coastline, and occurring throughout cities from Washington to southern California, along the Gulf Coast and up the entire eastern seaboard.
Biology:
The Roof Rat is an “arboreal” animal, preferring to live above ground level
Latin Name: Peromyscus spp.
Common Name: White-footed/Deer Mice
Latin Family Name: Cricetidae
Other Names: Deer mouse
Pest Details
Origin:
55 different species of this genus are found in the U.S. and are native animals. They have gained notoriety in recent years due to the associations with Hantavirus (deer mice) and Lyme Disease (white-footed mouse), and 2 distinct species are generally given the two common names. Deer mice (P. maniculatus) are found throughout the U.S. except for the southeast, and the White-footed Mouse (P. leucopus) is found throughout the U.S. except for the West Coast states.
Biology:
Normally residents of outdoor habitats these mice also commonly invade structures, particularly in cold weather and at times when human residents are not present. This association with humans brings them close enough that their parasites and their waste excretions are contacted by humans, initiating the potential
Latin Name: Neotoma sp.
Common Name: Woodrats
Latin Family Name: Cricetidae
Other Names: Trade rat, packrats
Pest Details
Origin:
These are native rodents in the U.S. and occur throughout much of the country with the exception of the New England states and some areas around the Great Lakes.
Biology:
While these are primarily outdoor rodents, they have become more prevalent indoors in structures in the southwest states. Once inside they have the same tendencies for gnawing and property destruction as do the more common structural rats and mice. It derives its name of pack rat from its desire to collect many different kinds of small objects and store them in its “middens”, along with food supplies and other materials. Small shiny objects are particularly attractive to wood rats, who may leave what they previously were carrying in exchange for the new item (“trade” rat). Adults live from less than a year up to 3 years in a