Pest Control Understanding an Effective Mode of Pest Free Environment

The importance of a clean and hygienic surrounding we live in, is of prime importance to stay healthy. The presence of flies, roaches, bugs, ants, insects and mice can pose a great threat to our health. They multiply rapidly, causing infections and diseases. We just cannot ignore the nuisance these pests can cause to our overall well being and livelihood. It is why pest control and management is seeked to either eliminate or regulate the control of pests which are harmful not only to humans but also to the animals and the environment. 

Similarly, for farmers who grow grains and store them, needs to ensure that that their grain stored on the farm after the harvest is properly fumigated in order to protect it from insects and pests. It is critically important that growers implement grain fumigation techniques, when storing their grains. 

There is another terminology that is used to address the issue of harmful insects and pests destroying the stored grains by growers - silo fumigation. Silo Fumigation is a technique that is used to treat a large quantity of grain produce in a storage place or area (also called as silo). 

This type of fumigation process is usually done to save money and time. All this is because that such a treatment process is being able to be carried out in a large area with huge quantities of products in a specific season. It makes the overall cost of treating grains very nominal. Also, it is important that such a fumigation process should be carried out after meeting strict protocols laid down for a specific product. 

A Complete Guide to Grain Fumigation

For the purpose of destroying grain pests like the rust-red flour beetle and the lesser grain borer at all their stages (egg, then larva, the pupa and an adult) phosphine –gas is required to reach and be maintained and that too is only possible in a storage space that is gas-tight. 

As mentioned earlier sealed silos (storage place or storage area), also known as gas tight silos are always preferred for the storage of grains for a long term. These sealed silos maintain a controlled atmosphere, which also acts as a fumigation chamber for effectual management of pests at all their life stages. 

While the process of fumigation of grains is carried, there are certain key considerations and practices that needs to be followed, such as: 

• For an effective grain fumigation to be carried, a minimum of 10 to 17 days are required. 
• For affluent results it is necessary to treat the entire silo, and the amount of phosphine depends upon the size and volume. It is irrespective of how much of grain is stored inside – whether full or half. 
• The phosphine tablets best works when they are placed on surface areas exposed to air. This aids the gas to evenly and thoroughly in the grain stack. In a gas tight and sealed silo, the tablets are evenly placed in trays prior to hanging them in the head space.
• Either bag chains are hanged in the head space or are rolled flat on top of the grains, so that as the gas dissipates from the tablets, it evenly passes around the grains. 
• At the bottom facilities for passive or active air circulation is provided, so that the gas evenly spreads to even the confined areas in the storage chamber. Improper or no air circulation can lead to phosphine to reach explosive levels. 
• The concentration of the phosphine gas needs to be at 300 parts per million for the first seven days or 200 ppm for a continuous ten days in order to control pests and overcome resistance. 
• On completion of the fumigation process, the silo needs to be opened and ventilated for atleast a day. After the ventilation period is over, the withholding period for another two days, thereby, making the entire process to be completed in a total of ten days.
• Phosphine is highly toxic and special and careful application is always advised handling it, or else it could prove fatal. It is why the fumigation should always be handled by expert and trained professionals in the service like Pestinct Pro Solutions (A Division of NBHC).

The Leading Age Advantage with Pestinct Pro Solutions

Grain Fumigation

Pestinct is known for its use of leading age technology is pest management for all its customers. It is also the first PCO – Pest Control Operator in the country to bring in use a web based technology for effluent and sure short pest control and management.

Termatrac (a unique sensory handheld equipment that helps its operator to locate, ensure and track the presence of termite and activities of any other pest by using sensory radars, thermal imaging and moisture), Pest Watcher (another new age technology software that helps in the monitoring and control of pests) and Glue Board Scanner (a mobile based application that helps in counting the number of flying insects on a glue board). 

Pestinct today has been serving clients in various segments – healthcare, food facilities, storage industry and all types of institutions. Their leading age technology implications in the sector of pest control has make them an effective solution provider for all kind of pests and pest related issues.