Validation of hydrogen cyanide fumigation in flourmills to control the confused flour beetle

Abstract

Aulicky R., Stejskal V., Dlouhy M., Liskova J. (2015): Validation of hydrogen cyanide fumigation in flourmills to control the confused flour beetle. Czech J. Food Sci., 33: 174-179.In the milling industry, the Tribolium confusum is hard to exterminate pest. We measured the concentration time product (Ct-P) achieved during the hydrogen cyanide (HCN) fumigation and examined whether the Ct-P levels in the explored Czech pilot mill were sufficient to control the field strain of T. confusum. Using an originally constructed, gastight fumigation chamber, it was estimated that the Ct-P required for the complete killing of the field strain of T. confusum was 4× higher (4.35 g/h/m 3 ) than the levels required to kill the laboratory strain (1.25 g/h/m 3 ). The Ct-P levels (ranging from 79 g/h/m 3 to 100 g/h/m 3 ) reached during the mill fumigations with HCN were less than half of the labelled HCN rate (240 g/h/m 3 ). Nevertheless, the current HCN dosage is still sufficient since the Ct-P reached during the mill fumigations was at least 99× higher than that required for the exterminating to the lab strain and 18× higher than that required for the field strain extermination. These results were confirmed in mill validation testing, where 100% mortality of T. confusum adults was achieved.

Synthetic and Natural Insecticides: Gas, Liquid, Gel and Solid Formulations for Stored-Product and Food-Industry Pest Control

“…Some types of liquid low-pressure fumigants (acrylonitrile, vinyl cyanide, trichloroacetonitrile) were injected into the grain bulk mass using hydraulic injector spears with motorized pressure generators [ 130 ]. These fumigants were also applied through the soaking of porous discoids [ 151 ] or hung in the space on ropes [ 46 , 52 , 152 ]. Small cardboard discs impregnated with ethylene dibromide (EDB) were wrapped in foil sachets for fumigation of a small unit of grain; each sachet was cut open immediately before disk insertion into the grain mass [ 52 ].…”

“…Liquidized gas fumigation preparations, such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN), may be distributed as stabilized liquid-soaked porous materials (discoids, chips, granules, etc.) enclosed in metal cans (0.5–1.5 kg) (e.g., [ 46 , 151 ]). HCN application is performed by opening cans with a metal opener and spreading porous discoids on the floor ( Figure 2 V), from which the gas is gradually and autonomously released into the treated space.…”

Biological Features and Population Growth of Two Southeastern European Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Strains

“…Taking a practical point of view, the knowledge of the life histories of certain strains leads to the optimization of their cultures in the insectary for the production of adequate numbers of individuals that are necessary for laboratory tests. Since origin impacts the response of T. confusum strains to insecticides either as grain protectants or as fumigants, or even as topical applications [25,[79][80][81][82][83], and taking into account the results of the current study, further research is needed to shed light on the life history of such strains infesting different types of commodities when they are treated with insecticides. The fact that different T. confusum strains show remarkable differences in their population dynamics when infesting certain suitable grain commodities should not be overlooked because it may lead to considerable losses.…”

Using of hydrogen cyanide against Ditylenchus dipsaci nematode present on garlic

“…The risks associated with its high toxicity can be decreased by proper cylinder formulation, use in a fumigation chamber, and application by professionally trained staff (Stejskal et al 2014a). HCN is commercially available and is registered in some European Union countries as a biocide for mills, structural wood and transport fumigation treatment (Ducom 2012, Aulicky et al 2014. Outside of the European Union, HCN is routinely used as a plant/commodity quarantine fumigant in several countries, e.g.…”