What happens to fleas when treated with wormwood? - briefly
Wormwood’s toxic compounds, especially thujone, disrupt flea nervous systems, causing rapid paralysis and death. The treatment also acts as a strong repellent, preventing re‑infestation.
What happens to fleas when treated with wormwood? - in detail
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) contains sesquiterpene lactones such as absinthin and the monoterpene thujone, both of which act on the nervous system of arthropods. When fleas are exposed to these compounds, the following physiological responses occur:
- Neurotoxic paralysis – thujone blocks GABA‑gated chloride channels, causing uncontrolled neuronal firing and rapid loss of motor control.
- Respiratory failure – sesquiterpene lactones interfere with mitochondrial enzymes, reducing ATP production and leading to hypoxia.
- Desiccation – the oil’s lipophilic nature disrupts the cuticular wax layer, increasing water loss and accelerating death.
Laboratory trials report mortality rates of 80‑95 % within 24 hours at concentrations of 0.5–1 % wormwood essential oil in a solvent carrier. Sub‑lethal doses produce observable symptoms: erratic hopping, reduced feeding, and failure to reproduce. Egg viability drops by 60‑70 % when oviposition surfaces are treated with the same concentration, indicating a direct effect on embryonic development.
Repeated applications prolong the repellent effect. Residual activity persists for 3–5 days on fabric or wood, after which the volatile components evaporate and efficacy declines. Integration with other control agents (e.g., pyrethrins) can enhance overall flea management, but synergistic toxicity may increase risk to non‑target mammals; proper dilution and restricted exposure are essential.
Environmental considerations include rapid biodegradation of thujone in soil and limited bioaccumulation, making wormwood a comparatively eco‑friendly option for indoor or sheltered outdoor use. However, high concentrations can harm beneficial insects such as predatory beetles, so targeted application is recommended.
In summary, wormwood’s active constituents induce rapid neuro‑ and metabolic collapse in fleas, achieve high mortality across life stages, and provide a short‑term repellency that can be incorporated into integrated pest‑management programs when applied according to established dosage guidelines.