Schädlingsbekämpfung im Vorrats- und Materialschutz mit Sulfurylfluorid

Sulfuryl fluoride (sulfuryl difluoride, SF) is weil established for termite control in wooden houses as Vikane in the US since 1960. About l O years ago, the company DowElanco (today DowAgroScience) decided to prepare the authorisation of SF also as replacement fumigant for the envisaged phase out of methyl bromide in 2005 . The ozone depleting methyl bromide has in the meantime successfully been replaced by SF in many suitable fields of application. SF started tobe used against wood boring insects in Sweden and Germany until it was eventually registered 2005 in many European countries also for stored product protection as Profume. The necessary ct-products (concentration x time of exposure) in the laboratory for effective insect cont:rol vary considerably depending on species, developmental stage and temperature. Experimental data require between 14mgh/l and 1694mgh/l for Jethal treatments at about 25°C with eggs being the most tolerant stage. In practical mill fumigations ct-products of more than J 800mgh/1 did not always control all included eggs ofthe insect samples even though the air temperature in the mill had been elevated to 35°C. rt can be expected that a combination ofwarming up the object and use of SF may be the approach to meet the high control standards ofthe food producing industry. New authorisations are expected for various other products than the registered dried fruit and nuts. High purity SF can be used to control insects also in high value wooden artefacts.