For the last ten years, the Australian wildflower export trade has been expanding rapidly and it is expected to continue to do so. Quarantine restrictions imposed by importing countries render insect-free flowers and foliage mandatory. Flower exporters have a number of options, currently fumigating just prior to export is a major one. At present methyl bromide or Pestigas®-Insectigas® (mixtures of pyrethrum in carbon dioxide and dichlorvos in carbon dioxide respectively) combinations are available to exporters. However, methyl bromide will be phased out by the year 2005. On the other hand, combined fumigants are not highly toxic to certain active or developmental stages of a number of insect pests. Hence, a study was conducted to determine an efficacious alternative fumigant or fumigant mixture for the post-harvest disinfestation of
wildflowers that are destined for the export market.