Mouse Plagues in South Australian Cereal-Growing Areas .1. Occurrence and Distribution of Plagues From 1900 to 1984

Abstract

Information on the occurrence and distribution of plagues of house mice, Mus domesticus, in South Australia was obtained from scientific literature, agricultural reports, rural and suburban newspapers, and personal observations. In all, 580 separate reports from the cereal-growing areas of South Australia in 20 years between 1900 and 1984 were collated to determine the extent of each plague. Some plagues were widespread, affecting nearly all 22 000 km2 of the cereal-growing areas; others were restricted to specific areas or isolated sites. Maps showing the extent and relative severity of mouse infestations are presented for 20 years between 1904 and 1984.