Food habits of rodents in grain godowns of Karachi, Pakistan

The present study is based on identification of stomach contents of three commensal rodents (Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, Mus sp.) and the common house shrew (Suncus murinus), which were collected from the Thole Produce Yard rice godowns, Karachi. The relative frequency of individual plant and animal food items were calculated as percentages. The stomachs of 88% of 65 R. rattus and 85% of 39 R. norvegicus contained insect remains as did the stomachs of 93% of 84 Mus sp. All stomachs of S. murinus contained remains of economically important stored-grain insect pests. It is concluded that insects can be it significant component of the diet of these commensal rodents. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.