Pest Management Science (2013) 69, 437-443

Daniela Fischer, Christian Imholt, Hans-Joachim Pelz, Michael Wink, Andreas Prokop and Jens Jacob (2013)
The repelling effect of plant secondary metabolites on water voles, Arvicola amphibius
Pest Management Science 69 (3), 437-443
8th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Water voles (Arvicola amphibius Linnaeus 1758) are abundant in most parts of Germany and other European countries. They are known to cause serious damage in fruit and horticulture as well as in agriculture. Currently available repellents, scaring devices and household remedies are mostly inefficient. Tests were conducted to establish whether water voles can be repelled using plant secondary metabolites. These compounds are produced by many plant species as part of their defence against herbivores and pathogens.
RESULTS: In this study, 12 volatile substances were tested in T-maze trials. The voles could choose between a test box including a test substance and a control box without odour. The extracts were considered to be repellent if the test box was avoided. Five potential repellents were identified: the essential oils of black pepper oil, Chinese geranium oil and onion, as well as the pure substances methyl nonyl ketone and n-valeric acid. Application of a combination of black pepper oil, Chinese geranium oil and methyl nonyl ketone did not increase efficacy.
CONCLUSION: The identification of an effective water vole repellent could help to reduce damage to crops. It may also minimise the use of kill traps and of rodenticides, which will be of benefit for non-target organisms.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Christian Imholt, Jens Jacob, Hans-Joachim Pelz

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Arvicola terrestris		Germany