Abstract
Black rats,Rattus rattus L., poisoned with 0·02%zinc phosphide in whole lentil (Lens esculenta) or green gram (Phaseolus aureus) did not accept their whole grains again (bait-shyness). No similar aversion was, however, shown to husked grains of lentil or green gram.
Apparently alternative textural states of the two pulses have distinctive tastes, and hence poisoning in one form (whole grains) does not affect the preference for the other form (husked grains). It is thus possible to avoid ‘bait-shyness’ by using whole and then husked grains of suck pulses for poisoning this pest.
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Bhardwaj, D., Ahmad Khan, J. Effect of texture on the food preferences of bait-shy wild rats (Rattus rattus L.) II. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci (Animal Sciences) 87, 77–80 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179004
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179004