Common vole (Microtus arvalis). Field mice Prevention is the key to success in the fight against mice in the garden

Microtus arvalis (Pallas, 1778) - Common vole

Systematic position.

Class Mammalia, order Rodentia, family Cricetidae, subfamily Microtinae, genus Microtus, subgenus Microtus (Schrank, 1798) – gray voles. According to various sources, the species contains from 20 to 30 subspecies; in the fauna b. USSR - 9-12.

Biological group.

Harmful rodents.

Morphology and biology.

The dimensions are relatively small: body length - up to 130 mm, tail length - up to 49 mm (30-40% of body length). The predominant color is gray, the tail is one-color or slightly two-color, the paws on the outside do not differ in color from the top of the body. Diploid set of chromosomes – 46. Inhabitant of forest-steppe, steppe and semi-desert. It inhabits mainly cultivated landscapes (agrocenoses). Like other species of gray voles, they make shelters such as “complex burrows”, which have a multifunctional purpose and ensure survival in open landscapes. When the population is high, individual complex burrows merge into large settlements occupying tens and hundreds of square meters.

Spreading.

Most of Western Europe, northern and central parts of Asia Minor, northwestern regions of Mongolia and China. On the territory b. USSR - from the western borders - to the Yenisei and Altai, including: Northwestern, Central Black Earth and Volga-Vyatka regions, Non-Black Earth zone, Ukraine, Moldova, North Caucasus and Transcaucasia, Lower Volga region, Kazakhstan, Southern and Middle Urals, Western Siberia.

Ecology.

High ecological plasticity to living conditions. Very high dynamics of population distribution depending on external conditions(weather, agricultural technology, predators) and the state of the food supply. When the number is low, it persists in reservation areas - crops of perennial grasses, pastures, inconvenient and abandoned lands. With an increase in numbers and mass reproduction– colonizes grain crops, row crops and industrial crops. It feeds mainly on green parts of plants and stores small food reserves for the winter. At optimal conditions nutrition and heat exchange, reproduction continues throughout the year; During this period there are up to 7 litters, with an average of 5-7 cubs in each. Intensification Agriculture accompanied by an expansion of its range.

Economic importance.

Damages almost all agricultural crops, especially grain crops and perennial grasses. In winter, under the snow, it gnaws the bark of fruit trees and seedlings. The carrier is especially dangerous infections for humans and pets. Protective measures: timely and high-quality (without losses) harvesting, compliance with crop rotation, deep plowing with soil rotation, bait method of control using rodenticides.

Description of the field mouse:

Body length no more than 12 cm, excluding tail. The thin tail makes up 70% of the body length.
The body is oblong. The hind feet are elongated and protrude forward when running.
Long muzzle, small round ears, oblong nose.

The fur is hard, rough, short. The colors can be different - gray, brown, ocher or beige. A straight line of black or brown shade runs along the spine. The color of the abdomen is snow-white. At the base the hairline has a dark tint. Small spots may be present on the chest.

The vole mouse has unique teeth, a pair of long incisors on the lower jaw grow throughout her life. To prevent their excessive growth, and they grow at a rate of 1-2 mm per day, the mouse is forced to continuously grind them off against hard objects.

As for weight, the average animal does not weigh more than 20 grams.

Photo

Distribution of animals

This representative of the fauna is widespread in Europe. Animals can also be found in China, Mongolia, Denmark, Finland, Korea, and Taiwan. In the Russian Federation, the rodent is distributed in Primorye, Siberia, and the Urals. Often settles on hills, climbs low into the mountains.

Found at Black, Sea of Azov. Does not like deserted forest-steppes and continuous forests. Settles well in moist interfluves.

Prefers overgrown meadows with small depressions, collective farm fields, sunny edges deciduous forests and, of course, vegetable gardens. It can be found in greenhouses, greenhouses, cellars, barns, abandoned utility sheds and even in residential premises.

IMPORTANT! With the coming autumn period rodents move into stacks, haystacks, and stacks of straw.

Reproduction

The breeding season for the vole mouse is from early spring to mid-autumn. In one season, the animal is capable of producing 3-4 offspring. In rare cases, up to 5-6. Gestation of the cubs lasts 21-23 days. One litter usually produces 5-7 babies.

Babies are born helpless and blind, but they develop very quickly.:

12-14 days after birth they begin to see clearly.
30 days after birth they become independent.
Young individuals are capable of giving birth to cubs within 90-105 days after birth.

How long does a field mouse live? The lifespan of a field mouse can reach 7 years, but in wildlife The animals usually live for a year or two.

Now imagine how quickly rodents can multiply in just one summer season, provided there is an abundance of food and sun.

Lifestyle

In summer and spring, field mice are active in the evening and at night. In autumn and winter time may be active during the day. IN hibernation don't fall in.

How mice and voles overwinter:

Natural shelters or earthen passages can be used as burrows.
Their burrows reach 3-4 m in length and have 2-4 exits, one of which leads to a watering hole.
Dwellings must have a nesting chamber and 2-3 pantries in which winter supplies are stored.
The storerooms are located at a depth of 0.5-1 m.

IMPORTANT! Rodents that live in swampy areas do not dig burrows. They build nests. The main material is grass. Such dwellings are usually located on tall bushes.

Distinctive features

Vole mice have their own characteristics that are distinctive from other rodents.:

Depending on their habitat (eastern and western), individuals have different colors and sizes.
It differs from other rodents by the presence of a smooth stripe along the spine.
Unlike mice, it has a larger body size.
It differs from the Dahurian hamster in its longer tail.
Unlike pieds, it has a longer period of puberty - about 100 days.
Compared to other subspecies of rodents, the field mouse has an underdeveloped ear.
Field mice have coarser fur. And adult individuals often develop soft spines, like hedgehogs.
Field mice belong to the mobile subspecies. They are characterized by seasonal feeding movements.
May be common in swampy areas. At the same time, they use grass nests as burrows.

Very often, other species of mammals that look similar to voles are mistaken for mice. The most common types of rodents by appearance resembling mice:

. Despite this name, this animal actually belongs to the mouse family, but differs from voles large size.
. Lives underground and belongs to the hamster family.

And also rodents from the vole family:

And . They are similar in appearance to mice, but have a number of distinctive features. Read more about pestles.
. Forest dwellers, differing from the field ones in the color of their fur coat.
. This species lives in colonies and is capable of making significant, up to 15 kg, reserves for the winter.

ABOUT various types read voles.

What harm is done to a person?

Voles can cause significant damage to both crop storage areas and plants in the fields. They can damage vegetables planted in the garden and spoil winter preparations in the cellar.

Moreover, these Rodents are carriers of infections that are fatal to humans., such as leptospirosis, tularemia, tick-borne typhus fever.

Ways to fight and protect

The main difficulty in the fight against field mice is that they live in places hidden from human eyes. This means that catching or poisoning them is quite problematic. That's why The primary task in the fight against voles is the need to find and destroy their homes. You can do this in the following ways.

We drive mice away from the territory

First of all, you need to try to drive rodents out of the area:

Mow tall grass, remove dry leaves and weeds. You also need to get rid of branches and piles of plant debris. All of these are great places to build burrows.
Fruits that have fallen from the tree should not remain on the site, as they are an easily accessible source.
Digging up the area can help get rid of holes and underground passages.
To prevent rodents from damaging fruit trees, a fine mesh net is dug into the ground around the trunks. The same can be done around the perimeter of the entire site.

We use repellers

The use of special repellent devices can speed up the process of expelling voles from your territory. They are installed around the perimeter of the site and provide protection from moisture.

We use mousetraps

Ordinary mousetraps can also help in the fight against mice. Experienced gardeners recommend installing these devices on the site in early spring and late autumn, since it is at this time that mice reproduce most actively. To prevent harm to pets, mouse traps can be covered with a box; this will not stop mice in pursuit of the bait.

We use poisons

At the end of winter and beginning of spring, the use of poisons is very effective. At this time, mice are hungry and not very picky about food. Poisons are placed directly in burrows.

How to get rid of field mice in the house?

If you have mice in your home, use time-tested, traditional methods.:

Mousetraps. At the same time, do not forget about safety measures so that people and pets do not get hurt.
Repellers. Special devices are safe for people and pets, but have negative impact on mice.
Poisons can be used if all precautions are taken.
Cat. The most effective, proven and safe “remedy” for mice. If you don't have a cat at home, borrow one from friends for a while.

Thus, it is quite possible to get rid of mice on your property or in your house. It is enough to create unbearable living conditions for them. And to prevent voles from appearing again, prevention is needed - maintaining cleanliness in the area, timely removal of plant debris and food waste.

Video

In the video you can see what field mice look like:

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Appearance

The animal is small in size; body length is variable, 9-14 cm. Weight usually does not exceed 45 g. The tail makes up 30-40% of the body length - up to 49 mm. The color of the fur on the back can vary from light brown to dark gray-brown, sometimes mixed with brownish-rusty tones. The abdomen is usually lighter: dirty gray, sometimes with a yellowish-ochre coating. The tail is either single-colored or weakly two-colored. The lightest colored voles are from central Russia. There are 46 chromosomes in the karyotype.

Spreading

Distributed in biocenoses and agrocenoses of forest, forest-steppe and steppe zones mainland Europe from Atlantic coast in the west to the Mongolian Altai in the east. In the north, the border of the range runs along the coast of the Baltic Sea, southern Finland, southern Karelia, the Middle Urals and Western Siberia; in the south - along the Balkans, the Black Sea coast, Crimea and the north of Asia Minor. It is also found in the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, in Northern Kazakhstan, in the southeast of Central Asia, and in Mongolia. Found on the Korean Islands.

Lifestyle

In its vast range, the vole gravitates mainly to field and meadow cenoses, as well as to agricultural lands, vegetable gardens, orchards, and parks. Avoids continuous forest areas, although it is found in clearings, clearings and edges, in open forests, in riverine thickets of bushes, and forest belts. Prefers places with well-developed grass cover. In the southern part of its range, it gravitates towards wetter biotopes: floodplain meadows, ravines, river valleys, although it is also found in dry steppe areas, on fixed sands outside deserts. In the mountains it rises to subalpine and alpine meadows at an altitude of 1800-3000 m above sea level. Avoids areas subject to intense anthropogenic pressure and transformation.

In warm weather, it is active mainly at dusk and at night; in winter, activity is around the clock, but intermittent. Lives in family colonies, usually consisting of 1-5 related females and their offspring of 3-4 generations. The home ranges of adult males occupy 1200-1500 m² and cover the home ranges of several females. Voles dig in their settlements complex system burrows and trample a network of paths, which in winter turn into snowy passages. Animals rarely leave paths, which allow them to move faster and navigate more easily. The depth of the burrows is small, only 20-30 cm. The animals protect their territory from alien individuals of their own and other species of voles (even to the point of killing). During periods of high abundance, colonies of several families often form in grain fields and other feeding areas.

The common vole is distinguished by territorial conservatism, but if necessary, during harvesting and plowing fields, it can move to other biotopes, including haystacks, stacks, vegetable and granary warehouses, and sometimes to human residential buildings. In winter, it makes nests under the snow, woven from dry grass.

The vole is a typically herbivorous rodent whose diet includes a wide range of food. Seasonal changes in diet are typical. In the warm season, it prefers the green parts of cereals, asteraceae and legumes; occasionally eats mollusks, insects and their larvae. In winter, it gnaws the bark of bushes and trees, including berries and fruits; eats seeds and underground parts of plants. Makes food reserves reaching 3 kg.

Reproduction

The common vole breeds throughout the warm season - from March-April to September-November. In winter there is usually a pause, but in closed places (stacks, stacks, outbuildings), if there is enough food, it can continue to reproduce. In one reproductive season, a female can bring 2-4 broods, a maximum of middle lane- 7, in the south of the range - up to 10. Pregnancy lasts 16-24 days. A litter averages 5 cubs, although their number can reach 15; the cubs weigh 1-3.1 g. Young voles become independent on the 20th day of life. They begin to reproduce at 2 months of life. Sometimes young females become pregnant already on the 13th day of life and bring the first brood at 33 days.

The average life expectancy is only 4.5 months; By October, most voles die; the young of the last litters overwinter and begin breeding in the spring. Voles are one of the main food sources for many predators -

Adults can grow up to 20 cm in length, although average individuals reach 15 cm.

They are similar to mice, but have shorter ears and tail. The color of the fur on the back is dark brown, and on the belly it is ashen. Many species of voles are difficult to distinguish from each other with the naked eye.

The most common species of the gray vole family are ordinary and arable.

Common vole

This type of rodent a little larger. It has more a long tail , which can reach half the body length. The color is light in gray-brown shades.

This rodent lives in forests, forest-steppes and steppes from the Atlantic coast of Europe to Mongolia. Occasionally found on the Korean Islands.

voles form family settlements. Such organizations consist on average of three females and their offspring in the 3rd - 4th generation.

The colony builds burrows with several exits and many passages, which are located close to the soil surface. A little deeper there are several storage facilities in which rodents store their winter supplies.

Ordinary vole is herbivorous. In the warm season, it feeds on green shoots of cereals and legumes, as well as plants of the Asteraceae family.

It can feed on insects, their larvae, and mollusks. During the cold season feeds on bark and underground plant parts, seeds. Stocking up for the winter. The pantry can hold up to three kilograms of food.

The activity of the common vole depends on temperature environment. When it is warm, it is active mainly at night. In the cold season, its activity is the same throughout the day, but intermittent.

The average age at which such a rodent begins to reproduce is 2 months. But a young female can become pregnant on the 13th day of life.

Pregnancy lasts 2 - 3.5 weeks. One offspring produces on average five new individuals, but sometimes up to fifteen.

During the warm season, the female can give 2 - 4 broods, in some habitats 7 - 10. If the animal finds a good place for wintering, it can continue to reproduce in cold weather.

Arable vole

Mouse-like rodent with dark coat color. Its other name is dark vole. It has a wide body and a short tail.

Arable vole can be found throughout Europe and in Asia to Lake Baikal. Found in damp areas: river valleys, gullies, floodplain meadows.

In terms of community organization, they resemble the common vole.

The diet is similar to other species of the vole family. In addition to the green parts of plants, it is also eaten berries and mushrooms.

Mostly nocturnal rodent. But in the daytime it still shows moderate activity.

Female field voles very prolific. The average offspring consists of six cubs. But the number of offspring may change.

Photo

Visual photos of common and arable vole:

Why are they harmful to a human farmer?

In the cold season, gray voles move closer to the person. They inhabit straw stacks, barns, cellars, and food warehouses. And they harm food supplies.

Some rodents settle in gardens and nurseries. They gnaw tree bark And damage roots.

If the garden is inhabited by such animals, then by spring many trees get sick or die. Most often they damage apple trees, less often - pears and stone fruit trees.

Methods of struggle and protection

To prevent the migration of rodents, you should carefully prepare the ground for winter:

destroy weeds;
carefully remove the bread and thresh it;
dig up tree trunks in gardens;
peel the stubble.

They fight pests using poisons, biological products or traps.

IN as poisons use zinc phosphide, glyph-tor, bactorodencid.

Also attract predators that destroy voles:

owls;
caresses;
ferrets;

Conclusion

The gray vole is a large family of rodents. The common vole is the most dangerous pest for agriculture.

It can not only destroy cereal reserves, but also contribute to the death of trees.

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Vole family (Microtidae).

In Belarus it is distributed throughout the entire territory. Common, locally abundant species.

Until recently, the common vole was considered a widespread polytypic species with a wide range. It turned out that the common vole sensu lato consists of at least 5 independent species, but similar in morphological characteristics and biology. On the territory of Belarus there are 2 such twin species: 46 and 54 chromosome voles. The first was named the common vole - Microtus arvalis. The second, 54-chromosome, is the Eastern European vole - Microtus rossiaemeridiaonalis.

The boundaries of the range of M. arvalis sensu stricto need clarification. The territory of Belarus is included in the range of both species. Proven findings of M. arvalis sensu stricto in Belarus are known in the Pinsk district of the Brest region, Vitebsk district of the Vitebsk region, Minsk and Stolbtsy districts of the Minsk region, Lida district of the Grodno region. The cohabitation of “twin” species has been established.

It is similar in appearance to a mouse, but has shorter ears, a tail and a compact build. Length: body 8.5-12.3 cm, tail 2.8-4.5 cm, feet 1.3-1.8 cm, ear 0.8-1.5 cm. Body weight 14-51 g. Individuals M. arvalis sensu stricto from Belarus varies in size. Body length in small forms is up to 100 mm, in large ones up to 135. Tail length in small ones is up to 34, large ones up to 51 mm. On average 33-37% of body length. The predominant color of the upper body is gray, brown and reddish shades may be observed. The number of plantar tubercles is 6, sometimes 5. The intraspecific taxonomy is quite confusing, especially in the central part of the range, and needs further study.

16 teeth. Unlike forest voles, the teeth do not have roots.

The color of the summer fur on the back and sides is gray-brown with a faint brownish tint, the belly is dirty whitish. Occasionally lighter specimens are also found. Their general coloration is brownish-gray, their abdomen is whitish with a faint yellowish tinge. The tail is one-color or slightly two-color.

By external signs from M. rosiaemeridionalis is not reliably identified. It differs from other voles of the genus Microtus by the presence on the outer side of the first molar tooth of the lower jaw of 4 protruding corners and on the chewing surface of this tooth by seven loops separated from each other.

In general, in Belarus the common vole sensu lato is found almost everywhere and is abundant everywhere. It lives in different habitats, but prefers open meadows, treeless spaces, especially agricultural lands. Agricultural lands on reclaimed lands are most intensively populated by the common vole, where the banks of all types of reclamation canals are the main habitats for breeding and survival of the vole. In places it is numerous, especially in meadows, areas with sown grass, clearings among shrubs, clearings, and gardens. In ripe deciduous and pine forests rare and completely absent in spruce trees. In winter, it can be found in stacks, stacks, piles of potatoes, gardens, and human buildings. The attraction to open biotopes is a feature of the common vole sensu stricto, while the Eastern European vole gravitates to sparse forests or clearings surrounded by massifs, a mosaic forest-field landscape.

Lives in holes of varying complexity and depth depending on living conditions. Burrows are made on roadsides, boundaries, wastelands, and the banks of reclamation canals. In open areas, burrows are located at a depth of 10-30 cm, in the arable layer no deeper than 50-60 cm (maximum up to 70 cm). The depth at which the gray vole nests depends significantly on the season, vegetation cover, and the nature of the relief.

In places of settlement it forms peculiar colonies. Each burrow has several chambers (for nesting and for food supplies) and exit holes. Several burrows extend from the nesting chamber in different directions, some of them open with exits to the surface of the earth, and some end in dead ends, probably hiding places. The nesting chamber has the shape of an elongated ball with a diameter of 8-10 cm, Savitsky et al. (2005) indicate 14-16 cm. The nest is built from cereals thinly split along the stems. Very dry. The inner part is completely lined with pieces of leaves, stems of cereals, and Asteraceae down. The exits from the burrows and feeding areas are connected by paths. Under favorable conditions, the same burrows are used for several years, which leads to their maximum complexity.

A vole sometimes digs a hole from different ends, and quite accurately leads one hole to another. Winter burrows are made between the ground and snow; When the snow melts, they remain in the form of characteristic “earthen sausages.” The mobility of the vole is low: daily feeding movements are carried out within a radius of 15-20 m. The young remain to live next to their parents. Voles have a well-developed “home instinct”: animals caught and carried at a distance of up to 2.5 km are able to return to family of origin

. Migration of animals can only occur in the absence of food. This usually happens on arable land after harvesting. The animals swim well.

Voles reproduce from April to October. In the southwestern part of Belarus, in normal seasons, it begins breeding in the first ten days of April. In environmentally favorable years 10-15 days earlier, in unfavorable years - the same period later, in the central part of the country 5-7 days later. Only in places with an abundance of high-calorie food (in haystacks, straw stacks) does this cycle continue in the winter. Females reach sexual maturity at the age of 20-30 days with a body weight of 12 to 20 g. Males become sexually mature at the age of 30-45 days with a body weight of 18-25 g. The duration of pregnancy is slightly more than 20 days. During a season, a female can bring up to 5 litters of 2-9 cubs (usually 4-6). IN natural conditions the female manages to have no more than 4 broods, more often 1-3, which is associated with a total life expectancy of no more than 8-10 months. By September, overwintered (last year's) animals make up no more than 5% of the population. The first two generations of the current year begin to reproduce in July - August, managing to produce 1-2 litters per season. The weight of the naked and blind cubs born is 1.2-2.3 g, body length 34-39 mm. They grow very quickly.

By 10 days of age, the weight reaches 6-8 g, the body is completely covered with fur, the eyes open, the animals begin to move freely and independently obtain food, and at the age of 3 weeks they are capable of settling.

Adult voles often live in pairs, with the male also taking care of the offspring. A female can show “collectivism”: feed and raise newborns in her own and someone else’s nest, or 2 females can bring offspring into one nest. Males are polygamous. The common vole plays a significant role in nutrition carnivorous mammals

The common vole is a major and very serious pest of agricultural crops. It eats almost all cultivated plants. First of all, crops of perennial grasses are damaged - clover, alfalfa, grass mixtures; legumes - peas, vetch; grains - wheat, rye, oats and, to a lesser extent, barley. By autumn, vole populations reach high numbers and are capable of destroying a significant portion of the crop. In meadows where vole colonies are located, the grass is almost completely destroyed, and the piles of earth that the animals throw out when digging holes make it difficult to mechanized grass harvesting. In gardens under snow, voles eat the bark and roots of fruit trees at the base. Settling in the basements of residential buildings, they damage stocks of grain, root crops, cabbage, and potatoes.

Animals can be a source of human infection with tularemia, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, listeriosis and swine erysipelas.