Methods for the control of arthropods using near-ideal gas phase hydrogen peroxide
The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for controlling arthropods, including insects and arachnids in an environment. The methods generally comprise: generating a near-ideal gas Purified Hydrogen Peroxide Gas (PHPG) that is substantially non-hydrated (e.g., in the form of water in solution or water in solution or water molecules bonded by covalence, van der Waals forces, or London forces) and substantially free of, e.g., ozone, plasma species, and/or organic species; and directing the gas comprising primarily PHPG into the environment such that the PHPG acts to control arachnids in the environment. In certain aspects, the arachnids may be totally or partially killed.
1. A method for controlling insects in an environment comprising:
providing purified hydrogen peroxide gas (PHPG) to said environment to prepare a PHPG containing environment having PHPG at a concentration of between about 0.005 parts per million (ppm) to about 1 ppm; and
maintaining said PHPG containing environment for a time period sufficient to control said insects;
wherein said insects are members of the phylogenetic orders selected from the group consisting of Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said PHPG is maintained at a final concentration between 0.005 and 0.05 ppm and less than 0.015 ppm of ozone.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said PHPG containing environment comprises a PHPG concentration of at least 0.02 ppm.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said controlling of said insects is selected from the group consisting of cessation of all activity and becoming immobile and dormant, regurgitation of a recent meal, laying of an immature egg, laying of a mature egg, hatching of an immature egg, death of a nymph, searching for an exit from said PHPG containing environment, exiting from said PHPG containing environment, searching for a source of non PHPG air, locating to a source of non PHPG containing air, exhibiting frantic behavior, becoming disoriented, death of an insect egg, death of an insect pupae, death of an insect larva, and death of a mature insect.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said controlling of said insects is cessation of all activity and becoming immobile and dormant, exiting from said PHPG containing environment, or death.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said provided PHPG is prepared from ambient air having a relative humidity of between 5% and 99%.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said PHPG is provided continuously to said environment.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said insects further comprise two or more populations of insects.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said insects are selected from the group consisting of eggs, larva, pupae, nymphs, and adults.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said PHPG is provided to said environment by a PHPG generating device that is a stand-alone device or is a component of a climate control system.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said environment is food processing facility selected from the group consisting of a restaurant, food distribution center, food packaging plant, and a grocery store.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said food processing facility is a restaurant or a grocery store.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said insects are of the order Diptera selected from the group consisting of Asphondylia spp., Bibio hortulanus, Calliphora erythrocephala, Chironomus spp., Chrysomyia spp., Cordylobia anthropophaga, Culicoides spp., Culiseta spp., Cuterebra spp., Dacus oleae, Dermatobia hominis, Echinocnemus spp., Glossina spp., Haematopota spp., Hydrellia spp., Hyppobosca spp., Hypoderma spp., Lucilia spp., Lutzomia spp., Mansonia spp., Nezara spp., Oestrus spp., Pegomyia spp., Phlebotomus spp., Phormia spp., Prodiplosis spp., Rhagoletis spp., Sarcophaga spp., Simulium spp, Stomoxys spp., Tannia spp., and Tetanops spp.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said insects are of the order Diptera selected from the group consisting of Aedes spp., Agromyza spp., Anastrepha spp., Anopheles spp., Batrocera spp., Ceratitis spp., Chrysops spp., Cochliomyia spp., Contarinia spp., Culex spp., Dasineura spp., Delia spp., Drosophila spp., Fannia spp., Musca spp., Phorbia spp., Tabanus spp., and Tipula spp..
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said PHPG containing environment comprises a PHPG concentration of at least 0.02 ppm.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said insects are Diptera selected from the group consisting of Anastrepha spp., Batrocera spp., Ceratitis spp., Drosophila spp., and Musca spp..
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said provided PHPG is prepared from ambient air having a relative humidity of between 5% and 99%.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein said PHPG is provided to said environment by a PHPG generating device that is a stand-alone device or is a component of a climate control system.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein said controlling of said insects is selected from the group consisting of cessation of all activity and becoming immobile and dormant, regurgitation for an exit from said PHPG containing environment, exiting from said PHPG containing environment, searching for a source of non PHPG air, locating to a source of non PHPG containing air, exhibiting frantic behavior, and becoming disoriented.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said insects are of the order Diptera selected from the group consisting of Anastrepha spp., Batrocera spp., Ceratitis spp., Drosophila spp., and Musca spp..
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein said controlling of said insects is selected from the group consisting of cessation of all activity and becoming immobile and dormant, regurgitation for an exit from said PHPG containing environment, exiting from said PHPG containing environment, searching for a source of non PHPG air, locating to a source of non PHPG containing air, exhibiting frantic behavior, becoming disoriented.
22. A method for controlling insects in a grocery store comprising:
providing PHPG to said grocery store to prepare a PHPG containing grocery store having PHPG gas at a final concentration of between 0.005 and 1.0 ppm and less than 0.015 ppm of ozone; and
maintaining said PHPG containing environment for a time period sufficient to control said insects,
wherein said insects are selected from the group consisting of selected from the group consisting of Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera , and Hymenoptera.