What are Fumigants primarily used for?

Fumigants are primarily used for their ability to change from a liquid or solid form into gas, which allows them to penetrate materials and environments where pests are present. This gaseous state enables fumigants to disperse effectively throughout a sealed area, reaching pests that may be hidden in cracks, crevices, or within commodities.

This transformation is essential for the application of fumigation treatments, as the gas can fill voids and spaces that would be inaccessible to solid or liquid pesticides. The effectiveness of fumigants lies in their ability to envelop and suffocate pests, even those that are not visible or are deeply embedded in materials.

Other choices involve methods of pest control that do not align with the unique properties of fumigants. For instance, directly killing pests in their active form typically applies to other forms of pesticide applications, while surface applications involve different formulations. Attracting pests through bait is an entirely different strategy where attractants are used rather than the gaseous penetration characteristic of fumigation.