Norway Rats
Also known as brown rats, Norway rats are one of the most common species of rats in the world. They belong to Muridae family and Rattus genus. The biological name of a Norway Rat, is Rattus Norvegicus. They are very active during the night and known to be expert diggers. They are pretty good in communication as well. Parents easily make out their pup’s noises, thanks to the ultrasonic vocalisation technique that they have mastered. When they face any dangers, they immediately alter their noise volumes so that they can alert their parents.
Appearance
As their name suggests, brown rats (Norway Rats) have a brown body with grey or white interiors. Most of the species are around 25cm in length. Their tails are quite short– sometimes shorter than their bodies. They have black hairs scattered all over their bodies and have four legs. Though they are named as Norway Rats, they are found all over the worlds. Their origins are believed to be in Asia. They are known for their sharp teeth and they keep moving around in a rapid pace. They live in all places that are inhabited by human beings. Their total weight comes up to around 500 grams.
Food habits
Known for their gnawing skills, these Norway rats usually live in moist and dirty areas. This is one of the main reasons as to why they are quite difficult to catch as well. They eat anything like fruits, vegetables, meat, nuts, grains and all food items that are consumed by human beings. They also drink a lot of water. This is why we find most of the rat burrows near water sources. Be sure to check your water pipes frequently as Norway rats have the uncanny skill to gnaw on pipes and cause leakages in them.
Are they dangerous?
Norway rats carry disease causing germs; therefore it is indeed dangerous to live in the same place as them. Bites from these rats can cause ailments like jaundice, rat-bite fever, cow-pox, plague, Q fever and other serious pulmonary disorders.
How to identify infestations
One of the most ways to identify infestations from Norway rats is through their droppings. They are in the size of capsules and black in colour. Hence it is easy to spot these droppings in your home. Also, check your building to see if there are any burrows around it. If yes, you should expect infestations from Norway rat in your place. You can check for their presence by testing them with food items. Try leaving a rotten fruit in the open during the night and check in the morning for any gnaw marks or other bite indications. These marks definitely prove the presence of Norway rats.
How to control infestations
If you want to keep Norway rats at bay, you should keep your house clean of all debris and garbage. Clear your homes all kinds of waste –food and otherwise. Moist areas are one of the favourite breeding places of these rats. Therefore, you have to correct all plumbing related problems immediately. Keep your lawns and gardens safe and weed-free, so that the debris don’t attract infestations from Norway rats.
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Ants: Acrobat Ant, Allegheny Mound Ant, Argentine Ant, Big-headed Ant, Carpenter Ant, Citronella Ant, Crazy Ant, Field Ant, Fire Ant, Ghost Ant, Harvester Ant, Little Black Ant, Moisture Ant, Odorous House Ant, Pavement Ant, Pharaoh Ant, Texas Leaf Cutter Ant, Thief Ant, Velvety Tree Ant and White-footed Ant.
Bitings Insects: Bed Bugs, Bird Lice, Cat Flea, House Mosquito, Human Head Lice, Kissing Bug, Pubic Lice and Thrips
Mosquitoes: Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes-Aegypti Mosquito and Culex Mosquito.
Cockroaches: American Cockroach, Asian Cockroach, Australian Cockroach, Brown Banded Cockroach, Cuban Cockroach, Florida Woods Cockroach, German Cockroach, Oriental Cockroach, Smoky Brown Cockroach, Surinam Cockroach and Woods Cockroach.
Flies: Blow Fly and Bottle Fly, Cluster Fly, Crane Fly, Face Fly, Flesh Fly, Fruit Fly, Fungus Gnat, House Fly, Drain Fly and Phorid Fly.
Rodents: Deer Mouse, House Mouse, Norway Rat, Pack Rat, Roof Rat, Vole and White-footed Mouse.
Spiders: Black Widow Spider , Brown Recluse Spider, Cellar Spider, Crab Spider, Domestic House Spider, Funnelweb Spider, Garden Spider, Ground Spider, Hobo Spider, House Spider, Jumping Spider, Spiny-backed Orb Weaver Spider, Tarantula, Wolf Spider and Yellow Sac Spider.
Stinging Pests: Africanized Honeybee, American Dog Tick, Bald-faced Hornet, Bed Bugs, Bird Lice, Bird Mite, Deer Tick, Brown Dog Tick, Bumblebee, Carpenter Bee, Cat Flea, European Hornet, Fire Ant, Honeybee, Human Head Lice, Kissing Bug, Lone Star Tick, Paper Wasp, Scorpion, Soft Tick, Thrips and Yellow Jacket.
Termites: Dampwood Termite, Drywood Termite, Formosan Subterranean Termite and Subterranean Termite.
Ticks and Mites: American Dog Tick, Bird Mite, Black-legged Tick, Brown Dog Tick, Clover Mite, Lone Star Tick and Soft Tick.
Other Pests: American Spider Beetle, Bean Weevil, Cigarette Beetle, Cowpea Weevil, Dried Fruit Beetle, Drugstore Beetle, Foreign Grain Beetles, Indian Meal Moth, Larder Beetle, Mediterranean Flour Moth, Red or Confused Flour Beetle, Rice & Granary Weevils, Sawtoothed & Merchant, Grain Beetles, Shiny Spider Beetle, Cabinet Beetles, Centipedes & Millipedes, Chinch Bugs and Earwigs.