j'oroet ServiG© Library 



ISSUED DECEMBER 1935 

 REVISE DECEMBER 1937 



Rev.ecU 

 follows 



CIRCULAR No. 369 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE I «-=J > 

 WASHINGTON, D. C 



INDUSTRIAL FUMIGATION AGAINST INSECTS 



P>y E. A. Back, principal entomologist, and R. T. Cotton, senior entomologist, 

 Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Introduction 1 



General mill or warehouse fumigation 2 



Requirements for a successful fumigation. 5 



Preparing the building for fumigation 5 



Desirability of a high temperature during 



the fumigation 9 



Effect of wind velocity 9 



Effect of light or darkness 9 



Choice of a fumigant 9 



Quantity of fumigant needed 10 



Applying thefumigant 10 



Ventilating the building after a fumiga- 

 tion 10 



Fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas 11 



The barrel or pot method 11 



The liquid method 17 



The discoid method 21 



The powder method 23 



Fumigation with chloropicrin 24 



Fumigation with ethylene oxide-carbon 



dioxide mixture 25 



Fumigation with methyl bromide-carbon 



dioxide mixtures 27 



Fumigation with methyl formate-carbon 



dioxide mixtures 28 



Vault fumigation 28 



Use of fumigants suitable also for large 



spaces 29 



Use of other fumigants 31 



Carbon disulphide 31 



Carbon tetrachloride 31 



Ethylene dichloride 32 



Ethylene oxide 32 



Bin fumigation 33 



Vacuum fumigation 33 



Equipment 34 



Page 

 Vacuum fumigation, Continued. 



Procedure 36 



Fumigation of various commodities 38 



Confectionery 39 



Vault fumigation for nuts 40 



Vacuum fumigation for nut meats 40 



Fumigation of sacked peanuts in 



freight cars 41 



Fumigation schedule for candy 



factories 41 



Dosages 41 



Furniture - 41 



Furs and garments 42 



Construction of storage rooms 42 



Dosages 44 



Effect of fumigation on furs 44 



Rugs and tapestries 45 



Dried fruit 46 



Treating the finished product 46 



Infestations in warehouses 47 



Cured meats and cheeses 47 



Stored tobacco 47 



Flour 49 



General mill fumigation 50 



Local fumigation 54 



Fumigation of flour warenouses 55 



Vault fumigation for flour or cereal 



mill 55 



Vacuum fumigation of flour products^ 56 



Rice 56 



Cottonseed meal 56 



Safeguards to be employed in fumigation work- 57 

 First aid for poisoning from hydrocyanic acid 



gas 58 



Shaefer prone-pressure method of artificial 



respiration — 59 



INTRODUCTION 



Insect infestation is frequently a problem of considerable impor- 

 tance in the storage of many types of merchandise. During warm 

 weather or in heated buildings, foodstuffs, cereals, seeds, tobacco, furs, 

 fabrics, etc., are highly susceptible to infestation by insects, and 

 heavy losses are likely to occur unless adequate protection is given 

 them. If cold-storage facilities are available, such commodities can 

 be protected from insect damage by holding them at temperatures 

 below 45° to 50° F. Many times, however, it is impossible or 

 impractical to use cold storage, and it is necessary to resort to fumi 1 

 gation. This circular describes various methods by which products 

 in storage or the establishments in which they are manufactured 

 can be protected from insect attack by the use of fumigants. 



4964°— 37 1 



