How is tar used for fleas? - briefly
Tar, heated until it becomes a liquid, is applied to carpets, bedding, or animal fur to smother and poison fleas through its toxic, suffocating action. The technique, used before modern insecticides, relies on tar’s ability to penetrate the insects’ exoskeleton and cause rapid death.
How is tar used for fleas? - in detail
Tar has been employed as a flea‑killing agent for centuries, primarily in agricultural and domestic settings. The substance’s high viscosity and adhesive qualities enable it to coat the exoskeleton of insects, disrupting respiration and causing desiccation. When applied to bedding, animal hides, or floorboards, tar creates a barrier that traps fleas and prevents re‑infestation.
Application methods include:
- Heating solid tar until it reaches a pourable consistency, then spreading a thin layer over surfaces where fleas congregate.
- Mixing liquid tar with a carrier oil (such as linseed oil) to improve penetration into fur or feathers; the blend is brushed onto the animal’s coat, avoiding eyes and mucous membranes.
- Impregnating cloth strips with tar, positioning them in cracks, crevices, or under furniture to target hidden stages of the flea life cycle.
Efficacy derives from several mechanisms:
- Physical smothering of adult fleas, which cannot escape the viscous coating.
- Toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in tar, which interferes with nervous system function.
- Reduction of humidity in the microenvironment, inhibiting egg hatching and larval development.
Safety considerations are mandatory:
- Tar temperature must be controlled to prevent burns; ideal pouring temperature ranges between 120 °C and 150 °C.
- Protective gloves and eye shields are required during handling to avoid skin irritation and ocular exposure.
- Animals should be monitored for signs of dermatitis; any adverse reaction necessitates immediate removal of the tar residue and thorough washing with mild detergent.
Modern pest‑control practices often replace tar with synthetic insecticides due to regulatory restrictions on hazardous substances. Nevertheless, in regions where chemical options are limited, tar remains a viable, low‑cost alternative when applied according to the outlined protocols.