SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1983
STP30182S

A Laboratory Test Method for Evaluating the Efficacy of Glueboards for Trapping House Mice

Source

A laboratory test method developed for evaluating glueboard efficacy against house mice is described. The test method involves two different procedures for exposing mice to a particular glueboard product. The first procedure is to establish if mice captured by all four feet on glueboards will remain captured. During this 24-h study, individually caged mice are placed by hand on glueboards and observed at ten present intervals for changes in glueboard holding ability and for changes in the health condition of captive mice. Positive results (regarding holding strength) from this screening technique leads to a second procedure to establish if “free-ranging” mice will go onto glueboards and be captured. In this case, the mice are tested as a social group in a 32-m2 colony room where they make a choice of whether to enter a specially designed test apparatus (containing the food and water supply) via an open route or via a route containing a glueboard. Activity is monitored automatically, and food consumption is recorded daily over this twelve-day procedure (four days = pretest, four days = test, and four days = posttest), which allows social interaction and other behavioral factors to affect product efficacy. With the occasional appearance of new and modified glueboard traps on the market, a comparative basis for efficacy evaluation is desirable. Both testing procedures offered here yield useful information, though the first method could be simplified to ease data collection. The second procedure, by itself, may be sufficient for some purposes, and the results may be more applicable to field interpretation. Field application of glueboards, product design, and consumer considerations are discussed.

Author Information

Frantz, SC
New York State Department of Health, Center for Laboratories and Research, Laboratories for Virology, Empire State Plaza, Albany, N.Y.
Padula, CM
New York State Department of Health, Center for Laboratories and Research, Laboratories for Virology, Empire State Plaza, Albany, N.Y.
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Details
Developed by Committee: E35
Pages: 209–225
DOI: 10.1520/STP30182S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4883-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0213-2