10. Rodents and Herpetofauna (Reptiles and Amphibians) as household pests in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

Small mammals and herpetofaunal household pests, known for their economic damages, health implications and nuisance effects on people, are frequently seen in the Ghanaian home environment. The study was aimed at assessing the relationship between the level of infrastructural development and the abundance, control methods and perception of people about rodents and herpetofaunal household pests. The results indicated that the incidence of rodents and anurans decreased with increasing infrastructural development of an area, while the occurrence of wall geckos and agama lizards was independent of the level of infrastructural development of the areas. The use of control measures, as well as the type of control measure employed, was also dependent on infrastructural development with the underdeveloped areas employing more physical and sanitary measures on daily basis, contrary to weakly and monthly bases in the developed and developing areas. Chemical control was mostly used in the developing areas while biological control was the main vertebrate pest control method in the developed areas. The level of infrastructural development of an area, therefore, gives an indication of the kind of herpetofaunal and small mammal pests likely to be prevalent in an area, and the consequences of their infestation. This information is particularly important in the choice of accommodation for rental purposes as well as town planning.