Posted by Jean Ryder | Posted in mosquito | Posted on 08-07-2010
Tags: ant, bed bug, business, cockroach, home improvement, mosquito, pest control, pests, rat
Rats are the most dominant species of rodents on earth, belonging to the Rattus genus of the family Muridae. There are several species of rats in the world. Most rodents are herbivorous, but some are omnivorous. Generally speaking, there are two basic types of rats. They are black or roof rats and Norway or brown rats. Both are thought to have originated in Asia and are now widely spread throughout the planet.
Roof Rats
The black rats are sometimes called roof rats and ship rats, scientifically named Rattus Rattus. They are usually black, have a slender built, 16-21 cm long and weigh about 80-300 gram. Their tail is longer than the head and body & their nose and muzzle are pointed. As the name suggest, roof rats are climbers. Their paws are built to climb & make nests in higher parts of homes, rafters, attics and crossbeams of buildings.
Barn Rat
The Norway rat is sometimes known as the house rat, brown rat, gray rat, barn rat or wharf rat. It is one of the best-known and is the larger of the two. Rattus norvegicus is their scientific name. Their other name refers to their grayish-brown body, with a lighter colored stomach. A brown rat in full size is 18 to 26 cm long and weighs between 400 and 600 grams. Their tail is shorter than its body and their nose and muzzle are blunt. They prefer moist conditions and nest in deep burrows.
At around 3 - 4 months of age, these rats start to breed. They breed up to 13 times each year & produce up to 22 in a litter. Black rats and brown rats eat about the same things. Their diet mainly consists of grains, veggies, fruits, cereals, meats, seeds, nuts and invertebrates. They consume about a third of their weight in food everyday.
They damage structures, contaminate food & carry deadly diseases. Some of the diseases potentially fatal to man that spread through rats are toxoplasmosis, Weil's disease, plague & salmonella food poisoning.
Learn more about the most effective methods of eradicating rat and pest control from your homes or offices. Unique version for reprint here: Two Common Rat Species.