The Efficacy Of Aluminum Phosphide, Brodifacoum And Floucomafen Against The Mole Rat Spalax Leucodon In Syria

Adwan H. Shehab
Department of Plant Protection, General Commission of Agricultural Scientific Research, Douma P.O. Box 113, Damascus, Syria
E-mail: a.shehab@mail.sy

Abstract

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 formulations of a single dose anticoagulant rodinticides, against the mole rat Spalax leucodon in different localities 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 closed again 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 in reducing the activity was very high (100%), whereas that of Flocoumafen was only 50%.