Church St Veit in D- 94315 Straubing
Anobiids pose a potential threat to the wooden interior artefacts in churches. The main species is Anobium punctatum De Geer. The altars, chairs etc. of the church St. Veit in the city of Straubing, Bavaria (Germany) were severely infested by this pest insect. The structural fumigation of the entire church was not possible because of an attached pub wall to wall. An evacuation was not possible. Thus, the strategy of compartment fumigation was used to get rid of the insects. Vikane (Sulfuryl fluoride) was used as the fumigant of choice.
Fig. 1 Anobium punctatum De Geer: The beetles are good flyers when it is warm enough
Sulfuryl fluoride (= SF) is an inflammable, not combustible, odor- and colorless inorganic gas composed of 99.8 % SO2F2 and 0.2 % impurities.
Vikane is packaged in white steel cylinders containing 56.7 kg or 125 lbs. of SF as a liquid under pressure. The relative vapor density of SF is 3.52 and the vapor pressure is 18.2 bar at 26.9°C. SF is relatively insoluble in water (750 ppm /25°C), rapidly aerates from fumigated structures and objects leaving no breakdown residues.
Fig. 2 Vikane cylinders
SF kills insects by disrupting the glycolysis cycle, depriving the insect of necessary metabolic cell energy. The efficacy of SF is mainly governed by 1) temperature at the insect site, 2) the initial concentration of SF, 3) half loss time of SF, 4) exposure time. The required dosage and the initial concentration of SF are calculated by using a computer calculator system.
Fig. 3 More than 15 compartments were fumigated inside the church to get a complete eradication of the Anobiid infestation.
SF was used in this study to eradicate an infestation by Anobium punctatum (De Geer) (Woodworm) in the St. Veit church in the city of Straubing-Germany. The wooden artefacts in this church were infested by A. punctatum. The artefacts were enclosed in gastight compartments sealed to wall and floor sections for fumigation.
Fig. 4 Sealed altars, chairs etc.: The sheeting was gas proof according DIN 53536 A
Prior to shooting the gastightness of each compartment was checked by an inert test gas released into the compartments. Leaks could be found by detection of the test gas around the sealing by monitoring devices. The sealing was improved by additional sheeting of detected leaky wall and floor areas.The half loss times of the inert test gas for each compartment were also determined. Knowing the air exchange rate of the compartments the exact initial dosage of SF could be calculated for each compartment. Thus, introduction of excessive SF was avoided and intervals of topping up the fumigant could be predicted.
SF was released from cylinders and passed through a filtering system, which removed the acid impurities in SF like Hydrogen fluoride and Sulfur dioxide to zero. This highly purified SF made sure not to alter or tarnish sensitive materials and surfaces of artifacts. The SF fumigation was monitored to insure efficiency of the fumigation and to reach a 100% mortality of the target insects including the eggs. The eggs are the most tolerant life stage. SF was released from cylinders and passed through a filtering system, which removed the acid impurities in SF like Hydrogen fluoride and Sulfur dioxide to zero. This highly purified SF made sure not to alter or tarnish sensitive materials and surfaces of artifacts. The SF fumigation was monitored to insure efficiency of the fumigation and to reach a 100% mortality of the target insects including the eggs.
Anobiid beetles on walls and floors would fly to the fumigated interiors following fumigation. Fogging with insectices was used to kill Anobiid beetles on non fumigated sections.
The open space of the church was sprayed additionally prior to aeration of the comparments with an insecticidal formulation in order to kill A. punctatum adults on walls and floors. Thus, reinfestation was avoided.
The air of the open space was also continuously monitored for SF traces using an Interscan GF 1900 to ensure the safety for non targets during the entire exposure time of SF.
When the target ct-products in the compartments were accumulated, assuming all target pests were eradicated, aeration was carried out. Fans and ductings were used to aerate SF from the comparments following fumigation.
The low sorption and non-reactivity of SF gas fumigant with artefacts are extremely favourable properties for rapid aeration. Following the aeration period, the artefacts were tested with an approved detection device of sufficient sensitivity to confirm a concentration of SF of 1 ppm or less in the breathing zone. No altering was seen on the artefacts.
References:
Kenaga E: E., „Some biological, chemical, and physical properties of Sulfuryl Fluoride as an insecticidal fumigant", J. Econ. Entomol. 50:16, (1957).
Schneider B. M., „Characteristics and global potential of the insecticidal fumigant, Sulfuryl Fluoride", Proc. 1st ICIPUE, Cambridge, 193-198, (1993).
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