Yes, you can catch horse flies! Catching horse flies is a key part of effective horse fly control. Many people want to know how to catch these biting pests. This guide will show you the best ways to trap and manage them. We will cover traps, sprays, and ways to keep them out of your fields.
The Pest Problem: Why Catching Horse Flies Matters
Horse flies, often called deer flies or biting flies, are more than just an annoyance. They bite hard and painfully. These bites can transmit diseases to horses and other animals. Even worse, they stress livestock. Stressed animals eat less and grow slower. Good horse fly control helps keep your animals healthy and calm. Catching the adult females is important because only they bite to get blood meals for their eggs.
Deciphering the Horse Fly Life Cycle
To catch them well, you need to know how they live. The horse fly life cycle has four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
- Eggs: Females lay hundreds of eggs near wet areas or standing water.
- Larva: The larvae hatch and live in mud or moist soil. They eat small bugs and organic matter here. This stage can last from a few weeks to many months, depending on the species.
- Pupa: The larva turns into a pupa, similar to a moth cocoon. It rests here for a short time.
- Adult: The biting fly emerges from the pupa. Adult flies only live for a few weeks, but they cause the most trouble then.
Knowing this helps you target adults, which are the ones you want to catch. If you can manage the wet areas, you can reduce the next generation.
The Best Methods for Catching Adult Horse Flies
Catching adult flies means using traps or direct catching methods. There are several proven ways to reduce fly numbers significantly.
Utilizing the Best Horse Fly Traps
Best horse fly traps work by mimicking what attracts the flies in the first place. Adult female horse flies look for a host to bite. Traps exploit this behavior using visual cues and heat.
The Horse Fly Trap (HFT) Design
The most common and effective traps use a large black ball. Flies are drawn to the dark, round shape because it looks like a large mammal.
How to Set Up a Standard Ball Trap:
- The Ball: Use a dark, round object, like a large beach ball or a custom-made rubber sphere, painted black.
- The Canopy: Build a cone or funnel-shaped structure over the ball. This structure is usually made of metal or plastic mesh.
- The Collection Jar: At the top point of the canopy, install a jar or container.
How it Works:
- The fly sees the black ball and flies toward it, thinking it’s a target.
- It lands on the ball and walks around it.
- It then flies upward toward the light coming from the opening of the canopy.
- It flies into the collection jar and gets trapped.
These traps are great for preventing horse flies in pastures because they work passively over long periods. Place them where flies congregate, usually sunny spots near animal activity.
Water Pan Traps
Some traps use water to attract and drown flies. Horse flies are attracted to water sources.
- Use a wide, shallow pan.
- Fill it with water and add a small amount of dish soap. The soap breaks the water tension.
- Flies trying to land on the water will sink instead of resting on the surface.
This method is less targeted than the ball trap but helps reduce the local population quickly.
Direct Capture Techniques
Sometimes you need quick results, especially when removing horse flies from horses.
Swatting and Vacuuming
This is immediate but labor-intensive.
- Swatting: A fast, flat swatter works best. Aim slightly ahead of the fly, as they react quickly to movement behind them.
- Vacuuming: A handheld, battery-operated vacuum cleaner can be very effective when aimed quickly at a resting fly. This is a great non-chemical option for removing horse flies from horses when they land to rest.
Using Baits and Lures to Attract Them
Effective horse fly baits focus on mimicking host animals or emitting specific scents that attract biting females.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Heat
Female horse flies use CO2 (what we exhale) and body heat to find us. Commercial traps often release CO2 slowly to mimic breathing animals.
- Propane-powered traps create CO2 by burning fuel. These can catch thousands of flies but are expensive to buy and operate.
Lures and Visual Attractants
If you cannot use CO2 traps, you can enhance visual traps.
- Sticky Traps: Placing sticky paper near highly active areas can catch some flies. However, horse flies are large and often avoid contact with surfaces unless tricked by a ball trap.
- Odor Lures: Some researchers are testing scents mimicking mammal sweat or breath mixed with attractants. These can boost the effectiveness of existing traps.
| Trap Type | Primary Attractant | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Ball Trap | Visual (Dark, Round Shape) | Low operating cost, passive catching. | Requires specific placement, catches fewer flies than CO2 traps. |
| CO2 Trap | Heat and Carbon Dioxide | Catches very large numbers of flies. | High initial cost, requires propane refills. |
| Water Pan Trap | Water Source | Simple, low cost. | Low effectiveness rate, requires constant monitoring. |
Protecting Your Horses: Repellents and Treatments
While catching flies is great, direct protection is also vital for removing horse flies from horses immediately.
Natural Horse Fly Repellent Solutions
Many horse owners prefer natural horse fly repellent options to avoid harsh chemicals. These often need frequent reapplication.
- Essential Oils: Oils like citronella, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender can mask the scent of the horse that attracts flies. Mix these with water and a small amount of unscented liquid soap (to help the oil mix) for spraying.
- Vinegar Sprays: Apple cider vinegar, when diluted, can sometimes deter biting insects due to its smell.
- Garlic Supplements: Feeding horses garlic is thought by some to change their scent, making them less appealing to flies, though scientific proof is mixed.
Chemical Treatments for Horse Flies
For severe infestations, chemical treatments for horse flies offer long-lasting protection. Always read and follow label instructions carefully when using pesticides.
- Pyrethrin-Based Sprays: These are common active ingredients in fly sprays. They work on contact, quickly paralyzing the insect.
- Pour-Ons and Spot Treatments: These products are applied directly to the horse’s back and shoulders. They spread through the horse’s natural oils, offering protection for several weeks.
- Premise Sprays: These are used to spray resting areas, like barn walls or shady spots where flies gather, not directly on the animals.
Physical Barriers
The best defense is often a barrier.
- Fly Sheets and Masks: Lightweight mesh sheets protect the horse’s body. Specialized fly masks with mesh over the eyes and ears protect sensitive areas. These are essential tools for removing horse flies from horses during peak season.
Landscape Management: Preventing Horse Flies in Pastures
The key to long-term success in horse fly control lies in changing the environment where they breed. Remember the horse fly life cycle involves aquatic or very wet larval stages.
Controlling Moisture and Drainage
Horse fly larvae need damp soil or shallow water to develop.
- Drain Low Areas: Fill in or improve drainage in low spots in your pastures where water puddles after rain. Standing water is an invitation for fly reproduction.
- Manage Manure: While manure attracts house flies more, wet manure piles can still host some fly species. Keep manure piles far from barns and regularly clean up large accumulations.
- Keep Water Edges Clear: If you have ponds or creeks, keep the immediate banks mowed or clear of excessive damp debris where larvae might hide.
Vegetation Management
Thick, wet vegetation offers shelter for larvae and pupae.
- Mow Regularly: Keep pasture grass cut to a reasonable height. This dries out the soil faster after rain.
- Remove Debris: Clear piles of wet leaves, rotting wood, or heavy thatch from areas near animal housing.
Alternative Horse Fly Control Methods
Beyond traditional trapping and spraying, there are several alternative horse fly control methods worth exploring.
Biological Control Agents
This method uses nature to fight nature.
- Beneficial Nematodes: These are microscopic worms that parasitize fly larvae. Applying them to damp soil or manure areas can kill developing larvae before they become biting adults. They are safe for horses and other wildlife.
- Parasitic Wasps: Certain tiny wasps are known to parasitize the eggs of biting flies. Releasing these wasps into problem areas can help naturally control populations over time.
Utilizing Natural Predators
While not a direct catching method, encouraging natural predators helps balance the ecosystem.
- Birds: Barn swallows and purple martins eat many flying insects. Providing safe nesting sites can increase their presence around your property.
- Frogs and Toads: If you have shallow ponds or boggy areas, frogs will eat many ground-dwelling larvae.
Advanced Trapping Strategies and Placement
Where you put your traps matters almost as much as what kind of trap you use. To maximize success in horse fly control, you need strategic placement.
Mapping Fly Hotspots
Watch where your animals spend time. Flies tend to follow hosts.
- Gateways and Entry Points: Flies often wait near gates or narrow passages where horses funnel through. Place traps near these areas.
- Shade Areas: Flies congregate in shady spots during the hottest parts of the day. Traps placed near common resting trees or shelters will catch them when they are less active flying.
Trap Density and Competition
One trap might not be enough. If you have a large property, use several smaller traps instead of one giant one.
- A few well-placed traps can create competition, drawing flies away from your animals and toward the traps.
Fine-Tuning Your Approach with Effective Horse Fly Baits
While the black ball trap is visual, enhancing it with lures is key to catching more. We mentioned CO2, but other effective horse fly baits can be integrated into simpler traps.
- Lactic Acid: This chemical is a component of mammal sweat. Some commercial lures release small amounts of lactic acid near a trap opening. This scent tells the fly, “A meal is close by!”
When combining lures with traps, ensure the lure scent doesn’t overpower the visual cue of the black ball, or the fly might land on the wrong thing instead of entering the trap.
Maintaining Your Traps and Sprays
Catching flies is ongoing work, not a one-time fix.
Trap Maintenance
- Empty Frequently: Traps fill up fast in peak season. Emptying the collection jar every few days prevents flies from escaping or decaying material from smelling bad.
- Inspect the Ball: Check the black ball for dirt or mold. A clean, shiny black surface reflects light better and is a better target.
Spray Management
If using DIY horse fly spray or commercial products:
- Reapply Often: Natural repellents fade quickly, especially after rain or heavy sweating. Reapply daily or every time the horse is bathed.
- Rotate Chemicals: If you rely heavily on chemical sprays, occasionally rotate the active ingredient. This helps prevent flies from developing resistance to one type of pesticide.
Comprehensive Program Integration
The most successful horse fly control involves layering these techniques. Think of it as defense in depth.
| Strategy Layer | Goal | Example Technique | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source Reduction | Limit breeding sites. | Improving pasture drainage. | Seasonal/Once a year |
| Trapping | Catch large numbers of adults. | Deploying black ball traps. | Continuous during season |
| Direct Protection | Immediately stop bites on animals. | Applying natural horse fly repellent or fly sheets. | Daily |
| Chemical Control | Long-term protection for high-risk areas. | Using premise sprays on barns. | Monthly or as needed |
By combining preventing horse flies in pastures with active removal using the best horse fly traps and protective measures like natural horse fly repellent, you create a much safer environment for your livestock. Remember, even if you cannot eliminate every fly, reducing their numbers significantly improves animal welfare.