Abstract only

Field mice Microtus socialis Pall and Microtus arvalis Pall are the main cereal crop pests in East Georgia. Microtus socialis Pall is spread primarily in lowland and sub-mountain environments, while the distribution area of Microtus arvalis Pall is the mountain zone. Mass reproduction outbreaks are characteristic of populations of both species at favorable conditions in their natural environments. Therefore, research of mass reproduction and depression tendencies in field-mice populations and appropriate indication of preventive measures is of high theoretical and practical importance. Research results suggest that meteorological conditions are the major determinative factors in regulation of populations of both species. For example, reproduction outbreak and the most intensive growth of field mice populations were observed twice during the research period: in 1976 and in 2001-2002 as a result of favorable weather environment. Agricultural measures are the important tools for bringing down the field mice population at cultivated fields. Based on our research and data analysis, we can conclude that weather conditions are the key regulatory factor for the population of field mice in East Georgia, having direct and indirect effects of provisioning the status of the feeding base so the vitality of the population. Based on analyses of the field-mice popu- lations in association with the variability of the meteorological conditions the certain range of cri- teria for the short-forecast of field-mice population were outlined.

English

0409|AGRIS 0401|AL-Wheat Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection