Horseflies & Other equine pests -What to DO!!!!

[ustmd]

We have had good luck with Fly Predators and good manure management.

 

[mud23609]

I've had the best luck with a dark run in shed and large fans. I use that in combination with ultra shield fly spray (expensive but it works better than anything else I've tried). The biggest thing is the dark run in combined with fans though. It works better than any other method. The fly spray is really only for if they decide to venture out in the sun.

 

[Soundguy]

permethren oil emulsion mix is a good general insect control.. I mix that up as a spray. remember to spray rafters too. them lil bat powered spray cans that go off every 10 minutes are good.. with maneuer control.. etc. putting some lime down helps too.. that and traps..

 

[altonPM]

Horseflies and deerflies are different than manure flies or biting flies. Those in the horsefly family (Tabanidae) are visual hunters and impervious to scent-based controls. The fly predators also do not work on these (they don't breed in manure), nor do flysprays. They are awful here this time of year, especially for horses that are "high-contrast" colors.

I have heard many good things about the Epps Trap, but haven't purchased one yet. It's on my wishlist! (there are a few plans online for homemade traps of this nature)

For an inexpensive solution, check out this research from the University of Florida. We have made the blue sticky traps with success, and we mount them on on the tractor this time of year and hang them from trees. We are in New Hampshire. My father in Wyoming also has a tremendous number of deerflies on their ranch and swears by these traps, as well.

For the humans, you can buy deer fly patches for the back of your cap or shirt. These work because the deer/horseflies circle around looking for a place to land. Riders and fishermen often use them.

 

[rasimmo]

The Epps trap works great(as I stated before). It seems to hold up well. There are some clear pieces that go over the troughs that need to be replaced every year. They are a couple bucks online. I take mine down over the winter and just replace those pieces when I put it back up. The rest of it is holding up fine. I looked at the plans online as well, but I did not figure it would save much.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Horseflies and deerflies are different than manure flies or biting flies. Those in the horsefly family (Tabanidae) are visual hunters and impervious to scent-based controls. The fly predators also do not work on these (they don't breed in manure), nor do flysprays. They are awful here this time of year, especially for horses that are "high-contrast" colors.

I have heard many good things about the Epps Trap, but haven't purchased one yet. It's on my wishlist! (there are a few plans online for homemade traps of this nature)

For an inexpensive solution, check out this research from the University of Florida. We have made the blue sticky traps with success, and we mount them on on the tractor this time of year and hang them from trees. We are in New Hampshire. My father in Wyoming also has a tremendous number of deerflies on their ranch and swears by these traps, as well.

For the humans, you can buy deer fly patches for the back of your cap or shirt. These work because the deer/horseflies circle around looking for a place to land. Riders and fishermen often use them.

AltonPM,

DAYUM DUDE! That is one of the most awesome 1st posts I've ever read, and it is in one of my threads with REAL solution to problems I am having.

You are AWESOME sir!

Thank You!
Be Well!

Welcome to TBN!

David

 

[tcreeley]

Our two horses are free to go in and out of the barn as they please. We have a close turnout that is quite large and gravel covered- little grass- just mosquitoes and black flies there. Out in the back field is where the real grass is and the deer flies, mosquitoes and black flies. We don't put bug stuff on them because the bugs chase them in during the day- so that serves to limit their eating too much. At night we shut off the back field (best time to eat- keeps the arab from turning into a colicy bowling ball!) There are no bugs at all in the barn because of the ammonia from their urine. We pick up twice a day -shavings over gravel. When we strip and lime the barn, and have all new bedding- the bugs come in. Once the horses start adding to their wet spots, the bugs stay outside. I like the Fan idea someone mentioned. Bugs hate a breeze. We leave the windows closed now in the barn and have just the one door open for the horses. There is ventilation, but the bugs stay out. The barn stays cooler than outside until the evening temps drop. By morning it is cooler than the building heat of the day.

 

[drssg]

I bought a Horse Pal trap. Some people swear by them, but I had mediocre success. IME, it catches some horse flies, but not enough to affect the horse's quality of life. I've heard other people claim they catch lots of horse flies with this trap. I know its performance is greatly affected by the trap location. Perhaps I haven't found the sweet spot yet. It is also fairly expensive. If you have time, it wouldn't be that difficult to build something similar.

I've mostly used the same approach that mud23609 described. Horse flies aren't as bad inside a somewhat dark barn. So there's a trade off. The horses need good ventilation, but more sunlight means more horse flies. I have found them to be somewhat deterred by a good fly repellant on the horse. Some of the fly sprays claim to last for a week, but I've found them to be affective for about a day.

If you figure out a good solution, you could make millions!

 

[Phast12]

Here is a page with info about horse and deer fly behavoir and instructions on making a cloth or wood trap. My wife has made several of these and they really work well.
Deer Fly Traps she uses a black target for horse flies and a blue one for deer flies.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Here is a page with info about horse and deer fly behavoir and instructions on making a cloth or wood trap. My wife has made several of these and they really work well.
Deer Fly Traps she uses a black target for horse flies and a blue one for deer flies.

Can you tell me where to go to find "Tanglefoot"?

Thanks!

David