Phosphine Gas Grain Fumigation

Why Should I fumigate with Phosphine, and what kind of pests can I fumigate using Phosphine? 

Using Phosphine gas as a method of fumigation is one of the most popular methods of dealing with goods contaminated by pests. This is because of how effective it is in reaching and penetrating deeply into your products. From grains and rice to timber planks and furniture. Simply put, phosphine gas destroys all sources and traces of contamination which can’t be reached any other way. Furthermore, phosphine gas eliminates all life cycle stages of the pest. This includes eggs with all the advantages of leaving no pesticide residues. The process usually only takes 14 days, with longer cycles determined by levels of contamination and humidity.

The vast majority of pests, both found in the UK and internationally (for instance, those crossing through shipping containers) are destroyed through phosphine fumigation. 

Below you can see a comprehensive list of pests that we commonly treat with some examples – but don’t worry if you don’t see it on the list, the chances are we can treat it. Contact us to find out more.

Types of pests Phosphine can be used on

Beetles:

  • Cigarette beetle,
  • Drug-store beetle,
  • Coffee bean weevil,
  • Bamboo boring beetle,
  • Brown Lyctus beetle,
  • House longhorn beetle,
  • Rust-red grain beetle,
  • Copra beetle,
  • Museum beetle,
  • Variegated carpet beetle,
  • Fur beetle,
  • Larder beetle,
  • Khapra beetle,
  • White-marked spider beetle,
  • Australian spider beetle,
  • Golden spider beetle,
  • Saw-toothed grain beetle,
  • Broad horned flour beetle,
  • Yellow mealworm beetle,
  • Rust-red flour beetle,
  • Confused flour beetle,
  • Cadelle beetle,
  • False blister beetle.

Borers:

  • Flat-headed pine borer,
  • Larger grain borer,
  • Lesser grain borer,
  • Groundnut borer.

Weevils:

  • Cowpea weevil,
  • Grain weevil,
  • Bean weevil,
  • Rice weevil,
  • Corn weevil.

Termites and Wasps:

  • Damp-wood termites
  • And steely-blue wood wasp.

Moths:

  • European grain moth,
  • Webbing clothes moth,
  • Angoumois flour moth,
  • Mediterranean flour moth,
  • Almond moth,
  • Warehouse moth,
  • Rice moth,
  • Indian meal moth.

Cockroaches:

  • Common cockroach,
  • German cockroach,
  • American cockroach,
  • Brown banded cockroach

What food products can I fumigate using Phosphine Fumigation?

Phosphine is widely used to treat contaminated food products. Those found in silos, bulk containers or even palleted goods. We have a long history using phosphine. And because it leaves no residue behind this makes it particularly effective as a pest control management solution.

Typical food products that are treated include:

  • Cereals: Stored grain, rice, wheat, maize, oats, sorghum, rye, millet, malt.
  • Cereal products: cocoa, coffee, dried fruit, dried vegetables, expeller, herbs, nuts, medicinal plants, oil seeds, spices, starch, tea.
  • We can treat food products no matter whether they’re in storage or in transportation.

What non-food products can I fumigate using Phosphine?

We use the same pest solutions used for food and non-food products because of the ability to penetrate deep into the contaminated products, no matter how far that wood borer has managed to stick itself, we can reach it.

Some examples of non-food products we treat are:

Plant Based: Processed tobacco, tobacco products and dried leafs.

Processed Natural Fibres: This includes materials used in furniture, such as, wood, wood chips, bamboo, feathers, rattan and their products. Just for clarity, we can treat bulk furniture items if required.

Paper and Paper based Products: This includes materials used within packaging, such as cardboard boxes, paper and jute bags, wooden boxes and crates.

What packaged food of plant and animal origin can I fumigate using Phosphine?

Phosphine gas is suitable for treatment for a variety of food of plant and animal origin products. One of the many benefits of the use of phosphine gas is that it doesn’t damage the product and ensures that it remains suitable for human consumption post-treatment. Some examples of the kind of plant and animal origin products that we treat are:

Processed Cereals and Grains: Pasta, snack foods containing pasta or grains such as instant meals and cookies. Milled fractions and packaged cereal. Bakery mixes such as flour.

Processed Vegetables: This includes all products made from vegetables that are used as a primary or secondary ingredient.

Cured, Dried and Processed Meat: Phosphine gas does not affect the taste, texture or the chemical balance of cured, dried or processed meat or fish, making it a perfect treatment for meat and fish products that have been treated this way.

Dairy Products: This includes instant milk powder, condensed milk, cheese, and any other products that contain high levels of dairy.

Condiments: This includes salt, pepper, sugar, sauces and other popular condiments that require treatment. 

Coffee: Coffee beans can unfortunately attract a wide number of pests such as the Coffee Berry Borer.

Chocolate, Candy and Nuts: Phosphine gas makes an effective, cost-effective treatment solution for the treatment of chocolates, candy and nuts. Pests tend to opt for high dense sugary foods to get a high-energy source.