|
|
Questions?
Enter keywords in search box below:
|
|
|
Tent Fumigation For
Structural Pests
-
Expensive, hazardous but sometimes needed -
|
Summary: Tent fumigation involves
using a poison gas or hot air to
eliminate insect and/or fungal pests from a
structure. Both methods are expensive and
may be hazardous. For some pests, and
certain situations, it is the only method available
however.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
|
|
|
Tent fumigation w/gas
or hot air
Fumigation is a
method of pest control in which a pesticidal gas, or
sometimes hot air alone, is used to eliminate an
infestation of insects or decay fungi. Fumigation is
commonly used in agriculture to control insect pests
and diseases in the soil and grain storage
facilities. Tent, or structure fumigation is used to
treat infestations of certain pests that such as drywood
termites that are not easily controlled any
other way (see What
are Drywood Termites?). In this case the
entire structure is enclosed within a gas-tight tent
made of coated tarp or plastic sheets.
|
 |
|
Tarp-style
tent fumigation of a small warehouse.
Photo by Art Antonelli
|
|
|
|
|
Tenting
Structures are first
enclosed in an airtight plastic or cloth "tent" (see
photos) that have there edges carefully sealed.
Pesticidal gas is then released into the enclosure
and allowed to remain for a specified time, after
which the tent is opened and allowed to vent. In
recent years techniques have been developed that use
hot air instead of pesticidal gas as the fumigant.
Hot air fumigation is not available in all areas but
is a safer alternative to poison gas fumigation for
some applications.
|
 |
|
Clear
plastic fumigation tent covering
house. Photo by USDA.
|
|
|
Cost of tent
fumigation
As you might guess, the
cost of tent fumigation varies by region and size of
the structure but is generally measured in the thousands
of dollars. This does not include costs
associated with living elsewhere while the treatment
is being done. Cost is one reason why we recommend
this type of treatment only in cases where less
drastic measues won't work.
|
|
Disadvantages of
fumigation
Fumigation in general
suffers from several drawbacks. It is very expensive
and must be performed by an experienced pest control
operator. It is also inherently hazardous, especially
fumigation that uses poison gas. Structure fumigation may also require
vacating the property for one to several days. And,
since it leaves no residual protection behind so
structures may become re-infested at anytime after the
job is completed.
Despite these drawbacks,
fumigation is sometimes the only practical approach
that will eliminate an existing infestation of certain
insect and fungal pests. The decision whether or not
to fumigate is complex but usually comes down to
balancing the cost of fumigation, often thousands of
dollars, against the cost of additional damage if you
do nothing. See Selecting
Pest Control Services before making the decision
to hire these services.
|
|
|
|
If our
information is useful click
here to
help us maintain and grow 'Bugs! You can also support
'Bugs
by shopping through this Amazon link
or the Amazon.com banner (left).
|
|
|
Don't
forget to bookmark us for next time - press ctrl-D
in most browsers.
|
|
|
|
|
Mission: To
provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information
for solving common insect and mite problems around
your home, business and landscape using least-toxic
methods.
Jack DeAngelis,
Ph.D.
Please see the Disclaimer statements as
well.
|
|
|
|
Copyright ©
2004-... LivingWithBugs, LLC. All
rights reserved.
|