Division of Entomology, ICAR Research Complex for North-East Hill Region, Umroi Road, Umiam-793103, Meghalaya, India.
1 Present address: Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh.
Ten baits were tested in laboratory in single and multiple food choice test against Bandicota bengalensis (Gray). The order of preference for various foods was wheat flour (kneaded balls) >rice>urd>cowpea. Groundnut oil (2%) was preferred over mustard oil (2%). Although addition of sugar and salt did not enhance the consumption by rats, they preferred sugar in comparison to salt. The best preferred bait was kneaded balls of wheat flour + 2% groundnut oil. Alternate baits like rice, maize and gram may be used to control residual population in case of bait shyness.
Bait foods, mole rat, Bandicota bengalensis, wheat floor, groundnut oil
