Horseflies are a common nuisance for horses and livestock. Female horseflies alight on cattle and make painful cuts in their skin to suck their blood. Unfortunately, it is difficult to control them, but there are some options that include traps, chemicals, and home remedies.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Using Traps to Catch Horseflies
Step 1. Invest in a trap
Non-toxic traps work best in an area with a lot of livestock, important people, or plants. Here are some traps that work well against horseflies:
- "Light traps". The lights in these traps are specifically chosen to attract unwanted insects. When the insect lands on the light, it is trapped by adhesive sheets or hit by an electric shock and killed instantly.
- "Flypaper". This card contains an adhesive that attracts and traps flies and gadflies.
- "Funnel trap". This trap contains fly food in a plastic bag as bait. The fly will have to enter the bag through a funnel. Once inside, he will not be able to go out.
- "Trap with simulacrum". These large traps have a target designed specifically to attract hunters on sight such as horseflies. When the gadfly approaches the target and sees that it is not a prey, it is trapped by the metal part of the trap.
Step 2. Make a trap yourself
- Hang a chair or stool on the ceiling of your shed or where the gadflies fly.
- Hook a medium-sized dark ball to a string. Hook the rope to the bottom of the chair so it hangs down.
- Stick some fly paper to the bottom of the chair. Rock the ball 4-5 times a day. Horseflies are attracted to dark colors and movement, so they will be attracted to the ball.
- When they fly to the ball and see that it is nothing interesting, they will fly up and get trapped in the paper.
Method 2 of 4: Getting rid of gadflies using chemicals
Step 1. Choose a chemical agent
Some substances are as effective as others. To prevent insects from developing resistance to the substance, it is a good idea to alternate the use of different substances. The possibilities include:
- Pyrethroids (cypermethrin, fenvalerate, permethrin, resmetrin, tetramethrin, s-bioallethrin, sumethrin);
- Organophosphates (coumaphos, dichlorvos, malathion, tetrachlorvinphos)
- Organochlorines (lindane, methoxychlor)
Step 2. Deal with your livestock directly
Always double check that the substance you are using can be safely applied to livestock. Then:
- Use a small nebulizer to spray the substance over your pets.
- If your pets are frightened by the nebulizer, dip a sponge or potholder in the substance and rub it against your pets.
- Always wear rubber gloves. Never allow these substances to come into contact with the skin.
Step 3. Apply insecticide to areas of your property
Spray stalls or rest stops along walls, ceilings, canopies, and eaves.
- Always get cattle out of the barn before spraying the substance. Some of your pets may need to be outdoors for a while. Follow the directions on the package.
- Roughly spray rest areas with insecticide. Make sure you spray with low pressure.
- Be careful not to contaminate your pets' troughs and feed. Also keep the substance away from agricultural tools.
Step 4. Spray a large area that protects multiple properties
Spraying a large area is efficient; it won't take a lot of time or work. However, these treatments have a short duration.
- Use a plane, nebulizers, sprinklers to spread the substance.
- The drops will reach the holes of the gadflies, killing the insects.
Method 3 of 4: Unverified Home Remedies
Step 1. Mix a glass of dish soap with 6 liters of water
Spray the gadflies with the solution. The soap will smother the gadflies without harming your property's plants and animals.
Step 2. Mix mint mouthwash, lemon dish soap, and lemon ammonia
Spray the solution in the garden and other infested areas.
Method 4 of 4: Preventing the Presence of Horseflies and Providing Relief to the Animals
Step 1. Keep the areas where you keep animals clean
Remove the manure, bedding, and food spread on the ground. If necessary, you can spray the manure with insecticide to prevent the development of the larvae.
Step 2. Eliminate the pools of water near the cattle
Build drainage systems and get rid of buckets full of water. Cover your pool or pond in horsefly season.
Step 3. Mow tall grass
Horseflies can find fertile breeding ground in tall grass. Insects in some cases retreat to shady areas with vegetation during the hottest hours of the day. To avoid this, keep the grass cut low regularly, especially along ditches.
Step 4. Offer a sheltered and shaded area for animals and cattle
A stable, barn, or doghouse will give your pets a place to retreat to when they are pestered by horseflies. It ensures that doors and windows are closed by a net, to prevent gadflies from entering.
Step 5. Apply ear nets, muzzles and repellent tags or tapes to your pets
Step 6. Perform annual actions, such as castrations, in the winter
The population of horseflies should be minimal during that time, and therefore fewer insects will feed on your animals' open wounds.
Advice
- Experts have mixed views on the effectiveness of chemicals against horseflies. Insecticides sprayed on animals may be ineffective because gadflies do not come in contact with substances long enough to be affected. Some sprays that contain DEET have marginal effectiveness, but DEET limits plastic and can be unwelcome.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a hat when working near horseflies. You can place a sticky trap on the hat to catch the gadflies flying over your head.
Warnings
- If you see horseflies flying near you, stay still. Pushing them away, moving their arms and running will only increase their attention.
- Gadflies do not generally bite people. However, if you get stung, wash the wound with soap and water. Press an alcohol-soaked gauze pad onto the wound. Check for swelling to make sure you're not experiencing an allergic reaction or infection.
