WEEVIL-CIDE® Aluminum Phosphide
WEEVIL-CIDE® is an aluminum phosphide fumigant available in tablet and pellet form for the control of insects in stored commodities and burrowing pests in outdoor settings. When exposed to atmospheric moisture, aluminum phosphide generates phosphine (hydrogen phosphide) gas — a highly toxic fumigant effective against insects at all life stages including eggs, larvae, and pupae.
Ammonium carbamate, a secondary ingredient, releases ammonia and carbon dioxide during the reaction, acting as inerting agents to reduce fire risk during treatment.
Complete application procedures, dosage rates, aeration requirements, disposal instructions, and spill response procedures are provided in the attached Safety Data Sheet and Applicator's Manual.
Tablets — Approximately 3g each, releasing approximately 1g of phosphine gas. Packaged 500 tablets per resealable, gas-tight aluminum flask.
Pellets — Approximately 0.6g each, releasing approximately 0.2g of phosphine gas. Packaged 1,660 or 2,500 pellets per resealable, gas-tight aluminum flask.
Shelf life is unlimited provided packaging remains intact and sealed. Once opened, flasks may be resealed for future use.
Stored product insects (all life stages): granary weevil, rice weevil, maize weevil, lesser grain borer, Indian meal moth, red flour beetle, saw-toothed grain beetle, Khapra beetle, Angoumois grain moth, Mediterranean flour moth, and many others.
Burrowing vertebrate pests (outdoor use only, with strict restrictions): ground squirrels, prairie dogs, pocket gophers, moles, voles, mice, Norway rats, roof rats, woodchucks, chipmunks, and yellowbelly marmots.
Structures and settings: Farm bins, flat storages, vertical storages and silos, mills, food processing plants, warehouses, railcars, containers, trucks, vans, shipholds, barges, tarpaulin and bunker fumigations, small sealable enclosures, and beehives/beekeeping equipment.
Raw agricultural commodities and animal feed: Wheat, corn, barley, oats, rice, sorghum, soybeans, milo, peanuts, cottonseed, various nuts and seeds, and animal feed and feed ingredients.
Processed foods: Cereal flours, bakery mixes, pasta, crackers, processed cereals, chocolate products, dried fruits, processed nuts, dried milk, processed spices and seasonings, malt, and others as listed on the label.
Nonfood commodities: Natural fibers and cloth, leather, tobacco, wood and wood products, paper, dried plants and flowers, straw, and others as listed.
WEEVIL-CIDE® is a federally classified DANGER product. Phosphine gas is fatal if inhaled and fatal if swallowed. This product must be treated as lethal at all times.
OSHA hazard classifications:
- Acute toxicity – Inhalation (Gas/Vapor): Category 1 — Fatal if inhaled
- Acute toxicity – Oral: Category 2 — Fatal if swallowed
- Acute toxicity – Dermal: Toxic in contact with skin
- Water reactivity: Category 1 — Contact with water releases flammable phosphine gas
NFPA ratings: Health 4 (Severe) | Flammability 4 (Severe) | Reactivity 2 (Moderate) | Special: W (water reactive)
Odor is not a reliable indicator of safety. Pure phosphine is odorless. A faint garlic odor may be detectable due to trace contaminants, but the absence of any odor does not mean phosphine is absent. Gas detection equipment is required — never rely on smell alone.
Fire and explosion: Phosphine may ignite spontaneously above its lower flammable limit of 1.8% v/v. Explosive concentrations must never be allowed to accumulate. Spent or partially spent product must never be confined, as slow continued gas release can create an explosive atmosphere. Never use water to extinguish a fire involving this product.
Corrosion hazard: Phosphine corrodes copper, brass, gold, silver, and related alloys — particularly at elevated temperatures and humidity. Smoke detectors, brass sprinkler heads, electronic equipment, batteries, and communication devices must be removed or protected before any fumigation.
- Restricted Use Pesticide due to the high acute inhalation toxicity of phosphine gas
- Legal for sale only to dealers and Certified Applicators; use only by Certified Applicators or persons under their direct supervision
- A written Fumigation Management Plan (FMP) is required prior to every treatment
- At least two trained persons must be present during any fumigation requiring entry into the structure
- A Certified Applicator must be physically present during fumigant application and during the initial opening of the structure for aeration
- All fumigated structures must be placarded at every entrance until phosphine levels are confirmed at or below 0.3 ppm
- Strictly prohibited within 100 feet of any building where humans or domestic animals reside, including single and multi-family residential properties, nursing homes, schools (except athletic fields), daycare facilities, and hospitals
Phosphine exposure limits:
- 8-hour TWA: 0.3 ppm
- 15-minute STEL: 1.0 ppm
Respiratory protection requirements:
- Known concentrations up to 15 ppm: NIOSH-approved full-face air-purifying respirator with approved phosphine canister
- Concentrations above 15 ppm or unknown: NIOSH-approved SCBA required
Store in a dry, well-ventilated area under lock and key. Do not store where temperatures may exceed 130°F. Do not store in any building where humans or domestic animals reside. Keep containers sealed at all times to prevent moisture contact. Storage area must be posted as a pesticide storage area.
Chemical emergency (spill, fire, exposure): CHEMTREC — 1-800-424-9300 (24 hrs) Medical emergency: Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety — 1-866-673-6671 (24 hrs) Product questions: UPL NA Inc. — 1-800-438-6071