Crop phenology shapes foraging behaviour of the lesser bandicoot rat Bandicota bengalensis in irrigated rice

Abstract Background The lesser bandicoot rat ( Bandicota bengalensis ) is a major rodent pest in irrigated rice ecosystems across South Asia, causing significant yield losses. However, continuous field-based quantification of its foraging behaviour across crop developmental stages remains scarce. This study used solar-powered infrared camera systems to examine activity patterns in relation to rice phenology under natural field conditions. Results Camera surveillance of six active burrows distributed across three rice fields during the Kharif season (June-November monsoon cropping period) provided 1,512 camera-hours of observation (252 h per burrow). Evening and early-morning periods collectively accounted for 78.2% of recorded activity events. Activity cycles (complete burrow exit-to-re-entry sequences) declined significantly from the vegetative stage (30 days after transplanting, DAT; 10.71 ± 1.32 cycles per 12 h) to pre-harvest (110 DAT; 3.99 ± 0.85; F(2,10) = 28.47, p < 0.001), while foraging duration per cycle increased four-fold from 1.38 ± 0.42 to 5.52 ± 2.61 min (F(2,10) = 12.31, p = 0.002). Exploration time also increased significantly across stages (F(2,10) = 8.47, p = 0.005). Mean maximum recorded displacement from monitored burrows was 9.70 ± 1.21 m. Auxiliary burrow excavations suggested possible synchronisation of reproduction with crop maturity. Conclusions B. bengalensis exhibits clear phenology-dependent shifts in foraging behaviour, characterised by reduced activity frequency and increased foraging duration as crop resources mature. These behavioural patterns identify testable timing windows for phenology-informed management, though confirming treatment efficacy and an appropriate treatment radius will require multi-field, multi-season trials.