Controlling the Horse & Deer Fly

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Horse Flies

There are over 30 species of blood letting flies. These flies hunt by sight. They are painful vicious biters of both people and horses. And they are more than just an annoyance - they can transmit diseases like Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) and Potomac Horse Fever (PHF). The horse & deer fly can suck blood for several minutes and only the female horse fly bites to feed on blood.

Both horse flies and deer flies will deposit eggs on vegetation around moist soil or very near water. The larvae will burrow down into this soil and feed on organic matter. The larvae mature into flies in the late spring.

The adult flies are very strong fliers traveling long distances from breeding sites. They will enter any area within minutes of spraying with insecticides. Fly sprays are basically ineffective when it comes to horse flies. The best control is obtained by trapping the female flies before they have the opportunity to bite/reproduce. This will reduce the population and make the area around your barn and pasture a much more enjoyable place for both you and your animals.

An excellent horse fly trap is made by Newman Enterprises ~ www.bitingflies.com 888-685-2244

Homemade Fly Trap

2 cups water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup vinegar

Mix ingredients to make fly bait. Cut a plastic 2 liter soda bottle 1/4 down from the top. Invert top portion into bottom portion. Punch 4 holes at top, tie string (twine) to hold both portions together and hang. Add fly bait & hang at your barn. Dispose of entire container when full of flies. (as you probably know, the longer this hangs the worse it smells and the more flies that it attracts.)

Homemade Fly Paper

2 C. milk
2 T. black pepper
2 T. white sugar
2 T. brown sugar

Brown paper bags, cut into strips. Boil milk, pepper, and sugar together for 5 minutes. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes longer, until thickened, and then let cool.

Wind the brown paper strips into a tight roll and drop them into the milk mixture. Let them become completely saturated. Rewind the strips gently and let them air dry on a cookie sheet. They are ready to hang when they are sticky to the touch.
To use, suspend the strips up and out of the way wherever flies are a problem.

CAUTION: Keep the strips away from young children, especially after they are covered with flies.

Fly Repellent

2 cups white vinegar
1 cup Avon Skin So Soft (Bath oil)
1 cup water
1 tablespoon eucalyptus oil

Reminder - Consult your vet and use at your own risk.
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Fly Control

An easy do it yourself fly spray that is relatively inexpensive. This spray will attract dust. So don't use it before a show.

2 cups light mineral oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 tsp. citronella oil
2 tsp. eucalyptus oil
2 tsp. lemon dish detergent
Mix in a spray bottle