Pests > Pests Entities > Rats & Bats > Rats > Rat/bat/parrot damage, betel nut fruits, Palau



Pests > Pests Entities > Rats & Bats > Rats > Rat/bat/parrot damage, betel nut fruits, Palau

Pests Pests Entities Rats & BatsRats Rat/bat/parrot damage, betel nut fruits, Palau

Rat or Bat, betel nuts

June 2005. Palau asked if the damage on the betel nut (Areca catechu) fruits was consistent with that caused by rat or fruit bats, or could it be an exotic beetle. IThis kind of damage lhas not been seen on betel nut in Palau previosuly.

From the photos it would be hard to confirm, but both rat and bat damage would leave distinctive teeth (incisor) marks on the freshly damaged fruits similar to damage on cocoa and coconuts.

Similar damages has been seen on native palm fruits, especially Metroxylon vitiense (Sago palm) in Fiji. The damage is caused by either native parrots or fruit bats. Usually the incisions are cleaner.