Bluefume (HCN) and EDN® as fumigation alternatives to methy bromide for control of primary stored product pests

The presented paper provides preliminary results on the fumigation potential of two preparations: Bluefume (HCN - hydrogen cyanide) and EDN®. (Ethane-dinitrile). Their biological efficacy was tested on Granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius; Curculionidae; Coleoptera) as a primary stored product pest in the Czech Republic. In fumigation chamber, we tested temporal survival of various S. granarius strains following exposure of a dose of 9 g.m-3 HCN (Bluefume). We compared differential sensitivity of one laboratory (i.e. sensitive) CRI-strain and 9 field strains collected from the Czech stores and mills. The HCN Ct products required to kill the tested S. granarius strains ranged from CTp= 30.5 g.m-3.h-1> to CTp= 51.7 g.m3.h-1. The efficacy of EDN (30 g.m-3) on various developmental stages S. granarius was tested in a fumigation chamber. No live individual of S. granarius belonging to any life stage was recorded following 18 hours of EDN exposure.