Vertebrate Pests of Rice in Southwestern Nigeria

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Abstract
Vertebrate pests damage rice continuously from the time of planting to harvesting. Further losses of harvested grains caused by small rats occur in farms, milling stations and stores. The main pests that dig and remove freshly planted and germinating seeds are the bush fowl, Francolinus bicalcaratus, and small rats and mice of which the most important species is the multimammate rat, Mastomys natalensis. Young seedling stems are cut by Arvicanthis niloticus, Dasymys incomtus and Tatera kempi. Major damage to rice stems, usually between flowering and early fruiting stage, is caused by the cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus. Five species of weaverbirds damage rice flowers and fruits. Lonchura cucullatus, Lonchura bicolor and Quelea erythrops may damage flowers but cause economically significant losses only by sucking the milk from developing fruits. Both fresh and dry mature fruits are consumed by Ploceus cucullatus, Quelea erythrops and Cinnamopteryx castaneofuscus. Commensal rats, usually Rattus rattus, but sometimes also Mastomys natalensis, bite holes in juteand polythene bags to expose, spill, consume and contaminate stored rice grains. The cumulative field and post-harvest damage by vertebrate pests accounted for a loss of about 40% of the potential crop yield when control was not applied. The species composition, the abundance of vertebrate pests and the actual level of infestation and damage in rice farms vary in the different parts of southwestern Nigeria. However, the village weaverbird is the most important vertebrate pest of rice in southwestern Nigeria except in a few localities where the migratory Quelea erythrops may become troublesome in rice farms. The cane rat is next to weaverbirds in pest status.

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