“La Cucaracha” was sung by Mexicans during the revolution. Why?

About the song with the same meaning

Literally from Spanish, “cucaracha” is a cockroach, but the designation of this word has nothing to do with heat-loving insects. To find out what a “cucaracha” is and what cockroaches have to do with it, let’s turn to history.

In the twentieth century, when there was a brutal civil war in Mexico, the people came up with a rather original weapon against the government: people wrote poems and combined them with a catchy melody. Unfortunately, history has not preserved any mention of the author of these poems and music, so the cheerful song is considered a national treasure. But why does it have such a strange name? Everything is very simple here: in the twenties of the last century, it was fashionable among officials and officers to wear mustaches that stuck out to the sides. And the more representative and higher position a person was, the longer and larger they were. That’s why people nicknamed the local Mexican government “cockroaches,” supposedly because of their resemblance to insects.

When Mexico gained independence and freedom from dictatorship, the song became so ingrained in the minds of the population that they continued to ridicule their superiors in this way, and even shaving off the mustache did not help. So “cucaracha” means, first of all, to think positively in difficult moments, coping with the heavy oppression of the government, using humor.

Today, “Cucaracha” is a playful and universal song, also called a Latin American folk dance.

Composition of the product, properties

The product is produced in the form of a bluish liquid with a specific odor, soluble in water. The composition contains 2 potent toxic substances, which allows you to block the ability of bedbugs to become resistant. Cucaracha is a concentrate, which makes it convenient for use and allows it to be diluted to the required level, which allows you to effectively, without harm to humans, destroy bedbugs, cockroaches, house ants and other domestic insects.

Cypermethrin

The main active drug is Cypermethrin. Cucarachi contains 1/5 of it; it belongs to the drugs of the Pyrethroid group. The product has the property of killing insects in two ways:

• contact;
• intestinal.

Upon contact with the chitinous shell of an insect, the poison penetrates the body, breaks the chain of nerve impulses of the insect, immobilizes it, then paralyzes breathing, which causes the death of the bloodsucker. Cypermethrin causes a similar effect when it enters the intestinal tract of the bug.

The substance is effective against adult insects and larvae; the poison does not affect the clutch, since it does not penetrate the thick, dense shell of the eggs.

The poison has a fairly long-lasting delayed effect - its effect lasts for a month from the moment it is applied to the surface. It does not disintegrate from exposure to ultraviolet rays and is practically insensitive to high temperatures. The toxic substance exhibits its highest effectiveness in the first 24 hours from the moment of spraying.

The product does not react with acids, but quickly disintegrates when exposed to alkaline solutions. This property allows, after disinfection, to easily remove the drug from surfaces that people will touch - just wash them with a solution of baking soda.

Insects in most cases are not able to develop insensitivity to the drug, which is why it often becomes a component of many household insecticides.

Cypermethrin in its pure form is a thick, colorless and practically odorless liquid. It contains 8 isomers, each of which is effective against a specific type of insect. It affects both harmful and beneficial insects - bees, bumblebees.

It is moderately toxic to birds and warm-blooded animals, including humans. This requires strict safety precautions during processing and the removal of pets from the premises during processing.

The product is dangerous for fish; during treatment, you need to cover the aquarium with thick glass, turn off the compressor during treatment to prevent poisoned air from entering the water.

Cypermethrin is part of the well-known drugs Tetrix, Insecticide, Raid, Clean House and Mashenka.

Malathion

The second toxic substance in Cucarach is Malathion at 10% concentration. It has a different mode of action - nerve paralytic, and when it enters the insect’s body, it disrupts the chain of impulses, depriving the insect of the ability to move and feed.

When it enters the body of an insect, it oxidizes, turning into the substance Malaoc. Regular intake of the substance in small doses forms a mechanism of insensitivity in insects. The mechanism is relevant when using the poison in its pure form.

Malathion is the second name of Karbofos. Used in the fight against agricultural pests and lice. Visually – an oily, transparent, odorless liquid. It dissolves well in organic solvents, less so in water. It decomposes under the influence of acid or alkali into neutral or slightly toxic compounds.

The product has an average level of toxicity for warm-blooded animals and people. This allows you to use the product without removing the birds from the room. The level of toxicity depends on the purity of the substance used in the insect repellent.

On sale you can find a product under the same name, but with Chlorpyrifos as the leading substance in the composition. This drug is less effective than the original.

The story of Nodar Dumbadze

“Kukaracha” is a story by Georgian writer Nodar Dumbadze, written in 1980. The story talks about a young district inspector, who is called Cucaracha because of his dark skin color, but no one really knows what this word means. The inspector is trying to reason with the local boys, who do nothing but destroy and damage the environment, he tries to encourage teenagers and adults to be kinder and more attentive to the place in which they live, but it is not so easy for him to find a common language with people.

The inspector resorts to different methods of education, while simultaneously fighting for a girl who is in love with a bandit. But Inga (the main character) believes that the criminal’s love is real, and when the bandit was caught by Cucarach, the villain accuses the girl and covers her with the dirtiest words. Inga asks to free the thief, because she is afraid of the contempt of others, and the main character agrees, but receives in full for the kind gesture: the story ends with the villain killing the kind and sympathetic inspector. He was, of course, convicted, but the next day the Great Patriotic War began, and this whole story was told by a boy whom Cucaracha taught and mentored. The rather instructive story of Nodar Dumbadze has stood the test of time and changes in values, but still remains relevant to this day.

Safety precautions when working with Cucaracha

The insecticide contains two components that are unsafe for people and their pets. Therefore, it is classified as hazard class 2, that is, it is moderately toxic. In case of drug poisoning, symptoms such as loss of coordination, dizziness, inhibition of reactions, nausea, convulsions and convulsions appear.

IMPORTANT! When continuously introduced into the body, malathion acts as a carcinogen, causing the development of malignant tumors. Cucaracha insecticide is very toxic to fish and other aquatic inhabitants, so the remaining product after work should not be poured into the sewer or any body of water

Cucaracha insecticide is very toxic to fish and other aquatic inhabitants, so the remaining product after work should not be poured into the sewer or any body of water.

When preparing the working solution and the subsequent operation of treating the premises, it is necessary to protect yourself with special means - gloves, a respirator, goggles and a suit. After work, they need to be hung outside for ventilation and drying.

Before processing, food and hygiene items should be packed in impenetrable plastic bags, the aquarium compressor should be disconnected from the power supply, and the aquarium itself should be covered with a lid. Remove animals and people from the house for a while.

After the operation, you need to leave the apartment for several hours, or better yet, overnight. Then thoroughly ventilate the premises, eliminating the smell of the insecticide, and wash off the product itself with a soda solution with the addition of laundry soap. The insecticide can be left in hidden places where children and pets cannot reach. Malathion, which is toxic to the respiratory tract, will disappear in the first hours after treatment, and cypermethrin will be able to destroy the remnants of the colony over the next 2-3 weeks.

Cucaracha insecticide is a modern, effective remedy that successfully gets rid of unwanted proximity to cockroaches.

Programming language

What is “cucaracha” in the language of information technology? There is a special Windows-based program that develops logic and teaches the basics of programming for children from seven years of age: the child gives commands to a bug crawling on the screen and solves problems of various kinds: from mathematics to how to control a computer and software. In “Cucaracha” there is an interesting series of algorithms, schemes, tasks - everything is given in an easy way in a playful way, which makes it interesting for kids to learn while playing, and the Cucaracha bug unobtrusively points out mistakes and ways to correct them.

Cucaracha production

Cockroach medications are available in several forms. To increase efficiency and accelerate the desired result, it is recommended to use 2 products with different mechanisms of action in parallel.

Cucaracha granules

The active substance is chlorpyrifos. Acts by contact-intestinal route. The shelf life is 3 years from the date of manufacture. The drug is odorless. Scatter the granules in places where cockroaches are most concentrated. Definitely behind furniture, along baseboards, near sinks and toilets. Food additives are used to attract insects. The package contains 100 g of product. Cockroaches begin to die within 2–3 days.

Gel Cucaracha

Produced in gel form. The active substance is the broad-spectrum insecticide imidacloprid. Fragrances are used to attract the attention of insects. Food additives cause cockroaches to eat the poison. Death does not come immediately. Pests eat poison, get dirty, infect others, and feed their young. After 3 - 5 days, pestilence begins. In 3 weeks, the entire population of cockroaches dies out.

Lay out the gel in dotted lines in places where insects accumulate, along the trajectory of movement. The drug retains its properties for 2 months. Add as you eat or renew the protection after 60 days.

Bait

Cucaracha against cockroaches in the form of a bait trap is based on chlorpyrifos. The active substance is in containers. Glue in any convenient place. There are holes on the sides into which insects can freely crawl. Infection occurs through food contact. The shelf life of the bait is 5 years from the date of manufacture; after placement, it is changed after 3 months.

Spray

Available in concentrate form. Dissolves in water at room temperature. There are several active substances: tetramethrin, alphacypermethrin. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture. Disinsection is carried out with the windows open, then closed and left to act for 2 hours. The toxic properties last for 3 weeks. If the room is heavily infested, it is recommended to repeat the treatment after 2 weeks. Poison from cockroaches destroys mature, immature individuals, and larvae after birth.

Cartoon "Oggy and the Cucarachi"

There are many cartoons about cockroaches, but the most famous is the French animated series "Oggy and the Cucarachi", which has already had five seasons in its arsenal. Each episode tells how a cat named Oggy, calm and kind, shares his home with nasty and cruel cockroaches.

In this film, the cucaracha is a gang of cunning ordinary people who are trying to take possession of the contents of Oggy's refrigerator, forcing the good-natured cat to fall into various traps. In some ways, this series is reminiscent of the more famous American version of “Tom and Jerry” or our dear “Leopold the Cat”. DiDi is the stupidest and gluttonous one, he can sing well, Joey is the leader of the gang, it is in his head that ideas for conquering the territory come, and the last character of Mark, very thin and tall, is considered the most aggressive, but this does not stop him from winning women’s hearts. By the way, the cockroaches were named after the rock band Ramones.

Security measures

Despite its effectiveness, Cucaracha simply cannot be non-toxic

When working with it, precautions will definitely be required. The product is of the second safety class, which means it can harm human skin or animal health

The poisons contained in Cucarache neutralize their toxic effect in the gastrointestinal tract of warm-blooded animals. However, in large doses they can lead to allergies and intoxication. If you feel dizzy, slightly nauseous, lack of coordination and even convulsions, it is quite possible that you have been poisoned by the drug. And malathion, in general, according to test results, can cause cancer. But this is if it accumulates in the body for a long time.

If after treatment you have at least a little product left, do not pour it into sewer pipes (sinks, bathtubs, toilets). The poison's toxins are harmful to swimmers and can poison bodies of water.

Prudently stock up on protective equipment at the time of processing. It may not be necessary to dress in overalls and gas masks like a medical team, but it’s better to just wear gloves, a mask and goggles.

In such a delicate matter as removing parasites, it is more expensive to neglect safety rules. Make sure that no one from your household is at home during the process. Close even fish aquariums tightly and turn off the compressor. Food should also be tightly sealed and stored away.

Worldwide popularity

Foreign journalists covering Mexican events fell in love with the melody of “La Cucaracha” and brought it to other countries. Moreover, each country came up with its own lyrics for this music. By the 1930s, “La Cucaracha” reached the USSR, and it was already sung in the Russian version, which began with the words: “La Cucaracha, la Cucaracha - I am a cheerful cockroach.” . The popularity of the song was such that “Cucarachi” was even unofficially called the experimental aircraft designed by P.I. Grokhovsky "G-39", which in the shape of the body was a bit like a cockroach. As for satirical couplets to the music of "La Cucaracha", they continue to be composed in many countries around the world to this day. In addition, it has been performed by numerous artists and musical groups throughout history, including Louis Armstrong, Los Lobos and the Gipsy Kings.

During our A1.2 course, we study a shorter version of two verses and two chorus versions (1. with marijuana and 2. with two legs) performed by the Gipsy Kings. Quite enough for beginners.

How to use

Cucaracha cannot be used in purchased form. The drug must be diluted with water in a ratio of 2.5 grams per liter of water. Take water at low and not high temperatures; preliminary infusion of the composition is not required, that is, it can be used immediately after dilution.

Approximately 50 ml of liquid is consumed per square meter. Only if untreated wood is sprayed can the consumption double.

The easiest and most convenient way is to place the solution in a special spray bottle and use it to thoroughly treat all surfaces, beds, furniture, not forgetting to look into the most secluded corners of the rooms. And don't forget about the various pantries and baseboards. These creatures can definitely be caught red-handed there.

And people usually forget about such places as:

• all backs and sides of furniture;
• frame parts of upholstered furniture;
• space near the window sills.

After the treatment is completed, ventilate everything. You don't want to get poisoned, do you? Open all the windows wide for about four hours, and after that you can start washing. Dilute the soap solution and thoroughly rinse off any traces of the product.

Be sure to do another treatment in a couple of weeks! This is necessary so that the individuals hatched from the eggs also receive their dose of poison. Otherwise, the nightmare may repeat itself!

Preparatory activities

The destruction of insects must be effective; after the main treatment, control spraying must be carried out in order to destroy eggs that are not affected by Cucaracha due to the dense shell.

Before treatment, it is necessary to identify all places where bedbugs can live. Insects usually concentrate in one place near the sleeping place - after feeding, it is difficult for them to cover distances. Their flat body allows them to use the smallest crevices in furniture walls. The places where they settle are behind baseboards, peeling wallpaper, wall hangings, and floor coverings.

It is necessary to take into account the places through which bedbugs can enter the apartment - if it is known for sure that the premises nearby are infested - these are cracks, ventilation risers, cracks in window frames.

Empty apartments should not be ignored - bedbugs left without food will wait for the owner for a long time, and only then will they go in search of food.

Before treating the room you need:

• remove loose pieces of wallpaper from the walls, if possible, remove them completely and paint the walls with interior paints;
• remove carpets and coverings - they must be treated separately;
• remove books from cabinets and check for insects;
• remove the bed, bedspreads, pillows, upholstered furniture and wash them in hot water;
• if possible, replace dried parquet with laminate or tiles;
• remove and wash clothes;
• sort the products and place them in sealed containers;
• hide and take out dishes;
• check household appliances and sockets located near the sleeping areas for insects;
• remove domestic animals and birds from the premises;
• cover the aquarium with glass and turn off the compressor;
• move furniture away from the walls to the center of the room;
• remove mattresses;
• if possible, remove the baseboards to process the space behind them;
• seal ventilation holes and cracks in frames.

The more thoroughly the preparation and processing is carried out, the higher the chances of completely getting rid of bloodsuckers.

Instructions

Cucaracha is used as an aqueous solution; you need to prepare a sufficient amount of it - wooden parts of furniture tend to absorb the solution, doubling its consumption. The water should be warm - this increases the effectiveness of the poison. The water mixture can be used immediately after preparation.

To treat the room, it is best to use a spray bottle or a regular spray bottle. The device increases the speed and efficiency of processing, allowing you to deliver the product to the farthest crevices of furniture and walls.

Treatment must be carried out thoroughly in all rooms. After its completion, you must close all windows and leave it for several hours.

How the drug works

The powerful effect of the product is achieved by combining two powerful insecticides. The first is classified as a substance of the pyrethroid group; it has a contact effect. When it hits the insect’s shell, it penetrates and begins to paralyze the parasite’s nervous system. Its name is cypermethrin. Has a prolonged effect. Even if you apply it once, it will then work for another month. The substance is not sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes; insects almost never develop immunity to it.

The second insecticide, malathion, also has a nerve-paralytic effect on insects. But the substance quickly evaporates from surfaces. In some cases, insect resistance to it has been recorded. It may not have the same effect on its own as the previous poison, but together they represent a terrible force for parasites. One enhances the effect of the other, quickly destroying the body.

During the first three days, the maximum effect of using Cucarachi is achieved. During this time, the room is completely cleared of parasites.

Distinctive features

It differs in that removing insects (bugs and cockroaches) is a labor-intensive process.

Attention! These insects are tenacious and reproduce quickly. Various techniques are used to remove insects

Features of the destruction of bedbugs and cockroaches