The JapanSociety ofMedical Entomology and Zoology [Med, EntomoL ZooLVoL52 No,1 p.43-47 2001) Research Note Migration of the houses androof rat, Rattus rattus, between paddy fields in Indonesia Tatsuo YABEi}, Motoyoshi MoGi2), Makmur SELoMo3) and Noer Bahry NooR3) i) Kbncrgawa Prefecturat Pubtic Uizatth Laboratories, i-1-1 Ndhao, Asahi-ku, Ybkohama 241-0815, lapan 2'Division of I]ttrasitolqg)" Dopartment of nficrobiolqg)" Saga Ofedical School, Nabeshima 5-1-1, Sagn 849-8501, lkipan 3) likeculty

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... f thblic lleaJth, Htisanuddin Uitiversity, tijung thndang 90245, indonesia Abstract: The infiuence of paddy field development on the population of the roof rat, Rattus rattus, was assessed in West Timor (August 1998 and 1999, dry season; February 2000, wet season) and Central Sulawesi (August 1998, wet season), Indonesia, In West Timor, the rats foraged houses and their vicinities but not paddy fields in the early vegetative stage either in August or in February, In West Timor in August, 48% of the sampled rats was estimated to have been born during the harvest-time in or just after the wet season from May to June, Meanwhile, in Central Sulawesi, the rats foraged paddy fields in the generative stage, and those born during the preceding two months amounted to 47%. These results suggest that the roof rat reproduced actively around paddy fields during the harvest-time in or just after the wet season and moved to houses after the harvest, Probably, the development of paddy fields motivates the rat to migrate between houses and paddy fields, and activates its reproduction.