House mouse

The house mouse (Mus musculus) belongs to the order Rodentia and the family Muridae. It is a cosmopolitan synanthropic species, meaning it thrives in human-altered environments, including farms, silos, and granaries, where it acts as a primary agricultural pest with a significant economic impact on food security.

This rodent poses a threat to various agricultural products. In the field, it consumes sown seeds of cereals and legumes. In storage, it feeds on grains, maize, sunflower seeds, and processed livestock feed. Furthermore, their gnawing behavior causes severe damage to infrastructure, including electrical wiring, storage bags, and wooden structures, increasing maintenance costs.

The biology of Mus musculus is defined by its rapid reproductive rate. A single female can produce multiple litters annually, with 5 to 10 pups per litter. Maturity is reached within just a few weeks, which allows house mouse populations to expand exponentially when food and shelter are readily available in agricultural facilities.

The harm caused by house mice extends beyond direct consumption. Their presence results in massive contamination of stored produce with droppings, urine, and hair, which introduces toxins and harmful pathogens. Consequently, infested grain batches are often rejected by buyers or deemed unsafe for animal and human consumption.

Effective management strategies require a combination of sanitation and pest control:

• Exclusion techniques, such as sealing gaps and installing mesh screens in warehouses.
• Rigorous sanitation to eliminate food spills and nesting materials.
• Strategic placement of rodenticides (anticoagulants) in secured bait stations.
• Use of snap traps and multi-catch mechanical devices in sensitive areas.
• Continuous monitoring and professional deratization programs to suppress outbreaks.