🧪 Active Ingredient Profile
Sulfuryl Fluoride (Vikane) — Structural Fumigation Guide
Inorganic Fluorine Compound · CAS 2699-79-8
Sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane) is the primary structural fumigant used in the US for drywood termite elimination, severe powderpost beetle infestations, and certain stored product pest situations. It requires professional application and complete building evacuation.
Mode of Action
Disrupts cellular respiration and inhibits GABA and glycine receptors — acts on multiple neural and cellular targets; mechanism of selective insecticidal toxicity not fully characterized
📋 Key Facts
Class
Inorganic fluorine compound
Signal Word
Danger — highly toxic gas
Application
Licensed fumigator only — full building evacuation required
Clearance
Certified aeration clearance required before re-entry
Effectiveness
Kills ALL pest species and life stages in treated structure
Residual
Zero — no residual protection after aeration
Uses
Drywood termites, severe powderpost beetles, drywood wood borers
🎯 Primary Uses
Sulfuryl fluoride is used exclusively for whole-structure fumigation when: drywood termite infestation is too extensive or widespread for localized treatment, powderpost beetles or other wood borers are throughout structural members, or severe stored product pest infestations in food facilities. It penetrates all areas of a structure, killing every insect in every life stage. Nothing survives properly executed fumigation.
🛡️ Safety Summary
Highly toxic to mammals, birds, and other vertebrates — complete evacuation is legally required. Chloropicrin (tear gas compound) is added as a warning agent. Re-entry requires certified clearance testing. Plants are typically removed or specially bagged. Fish tanks and sealed plants require special handling. Food must be removed or sealed in specially certified bags.
🔬 Resistance Status
No resistance documented — sulfuryl fluoride's multiple modes of action and inorganic chemistry make resistance essentially impossible. This is one of its key advantages for severe infestations.
🏷️ Common Products
Vikane (Dow AgroSciences)ProFume
🦺 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Required PPE varies by formulation and application method. Always read the product
label — the label is the law and overrides general guidance.
- Chemical-resistant gloves
- Eye protection when mixing
- Long sleeves and pants
- Keep children and pets out during application
- Wash hands after handling
⚠️ Label compliance: The product label is a legal document under FIFRA.
Applying any pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its label is a federal violation.
📋 Application Best Practices
- Read the full label before each use — formulations change and label requirements may differ from previous products you've used.
- Apply at the right rate — more is not more effective. Over-application wastes product, creates unnecessary exposure, and is illegal.
- Target harborage and entry points, not just visible pest activity. Treating where pests hide is more effective than treating where you see them.
- Record the application — note the product, rate, area treated, and date. Required for commercial applications; best practice for homeowners.
- Ventilate the treatment area after application and before re-entry.
💡 Storage: Store in original container, away from children, in a cool dry location. Never transfer to food or beverage containers. Check local regulations for disposal — most areas have household hazardous waste collection events.
Example
0.5 oz
per gallon
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🌿 Environmental & Resistance Considerations
Responsible pesticide use protects both effectiveness and the environment:
- Resistance management: Rotating to pesticides with different modes of action prevents resistance development. Avoid using the same active ingredient exclusively.
- Pollinator protection: Apply in early morning or evening when bees are less active. Avoid applications to flowering plants.
- Water protection: Do not apply before rain. Keep applications away from drains, waterways, and storm inlets.
- Non-target species: Broad-spectrum insecticides affect beneficial insects. Consider targeted baits or dusts in sensitive areas.
Published: Jan 1, 2025 · Updated: Apr 7, 2026
🔮
Reviewed by Derek GiordanoContent reviewed by a licensed pest management professional and cross-referenced against EPA, university extension, and manufacturer technical data. Last reviewed: April 2026.