ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ACTIVITIES


Various individuals in several countries have cooperated with the DWRC
in our efforts to better define and understand the vertebrate pest
problems of developing countries. Such cooperation may be in the form
of joint research undertakings or by providing information obtained
through their own research, experiences, and observations. The
efforts of these individuals are acknowledged and appreciated. Sum-
maries of their contributions are given below.

Cooperator: Daniel Evans
Country: Dominican Republic

 Vertebrate pests in the Dominican Republic1

The Dominican Republic's National Vertebrate Pest Control Program
seeks to reduce the millions of pesos lost annually to a few species
of bird and mammal pests by promoting existing control measures and
working to develop new ones where no appropriate control exists.
Long-term goals are to organize sustained control of rats and other
pests in all areas of historical infestation and to prevent the
introduction of new pest species.

Pest birds

The principal bird pests cause economic loss primarily in rice and
cacao. The Hispaniolan woodpecker (Melanerpes striatus) is found
throughout the country, but is a problem only where cacao is grown.
Its habit of feeding on the fruits allows a fungal disease to infect
and damage the cacao beans. The worst pest in rice is the Madame
Sarah (Ploceus cucullatus) and flocks often exceed 1,000 individuals.
The cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is similar to the Madame Sarah in
its destructiveness to rice but does not reach such high populations.
In January of this year, a new species was identified for the first
time on the island. The scaly-breasted munia (Lonchura punctulata)
is a member of the family Ploceidae, as are the Madame Sarah and the
house sparrow. In Asia and Africa, it is a serious rice pest.
Similar problems can be anticipated in the Dominican Republic as the
species becomes better established.


1 This summary was adapted from a paper entitled "Vertebrate Pest
Control in the Dominican Republic" presented at the Fifth Reunion of
the Caribbean Plant Protection Commission. Caracas, Venezuela. Oct.
23-27, 1978.