Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Experiments On Chemical Control Of Behavior In Brown Tree Snakes, David Chiszar, Gordon H. Rodda, Hobart M. Smith

National Wildlife Research Center Repellents Conference 1995

The brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), accidentally introduced on Guam shortly after World War 11, is the target of extensive efforts aimed at reducing populations and preventing their spread to other Pacific islands. Chemical attractants and repellents have been investigated, and this paper presents an overview of current knowledge. In particular, chemical cues that have strong effects in laboratory tests have had only modest (though significant) effects in field tests on Guam. Reasons for the different outcomes of laboratory and field studies are discussed along with recommendations for the redesign of laboratory experiments.