New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
The potential of an insect pheromone lure, Z-7-dodecen-1-yl
acetate, compared with peanut butter to attract laboratory and wild
rats and mice
Elaine M. Gould*
Selena J. Holmes
Grant W. Tempero†
Health and Food Sector
HortResearch
East Street
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
*Corresponding author: egould@hortresearch.co.nz
†Present address: Centre for Biodiversity and Ecological
Research, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Waikato,
Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
Abstract We compared the attractiveness to
rats and mice of
two lures, the pheromone Z-7-dodecen-1-yl acetate and peanut butter. In
the first part of the study, laboratory-bred rats and mice were placed
in a Y-maze. Each arm of the maze offered their normal food, plus
either the pheromone or 5% ethanol as a control. There were no
significant differences, by species or sex, in the number of visits or
the amount of time spent in each arm. The male mice took significantly
less time, however, to enter the control arm of the maze than the
pheromone arm. In addition, female mice were less active during the
first 5 min of the Y-maze study than during the 5 min familiarisation
period, suggesting a repellent effect of the pheromone lure. In the
second part of the study, tracking tunnels were placed out in the field
and baited with one of three lures—the pheromone, peanut butter or a 5%
ethanol control. There was no significant difference in the number of
visits by mice to tunnels containing the three lures, but rats made
more visits to the tunnels containing peanut butter in the “Test” stage
than in the “Neo” stage. The wild rats and mice were found not to be
neophobic, suggesting the standard 3-week familiarisation period
is not necessary.
Keywords mice; peanut butter; rats; tracking tunnels;
Y-maze; Z-7-dodecen-1-yl acetate
Z07011; Online publication date 5 November 2007; Received 22 March
2007; accepted 8 October 2007
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2007, Vol. 34: 363–369
0301–4223/07/3404–0363 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007
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