Anyone used a horsefly trap?

I keep getting bitten, look at these, wonder whether they work vs the cost, decide not to, get bitten then contemplate using a black space hopper http://www.space-hoppers.co.uk/index.php?cPath=22_23 , hula hoop https://www.matalan.co.uk/product/d...MItr28mpvy1AIVy73tCh27BQh5EAQYBCABEgIZOvD_BwE , net curtain https://www.netcurtainsdirect.com/net-curtains/plain-net-curtain-express.html , and trap made from a couple of cut up drink bottles and glue..........

Apathy means I am still being bitten.
 
sychnant said:
I hung mine at the weekend, must check to see if I've caught anything!

I bought this one, which is smaller but significantly cheaper:

http://www.tannertrading.co.uk/fly-repellent/mt-trap-horse-fly-and-wasps-trap/
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This is the one I'm looking at getting - figured if it didn't work then at least I hadn't spent near enough £150 and we have plenty of trees to hang it on by the paddocks. Will be interesting to know if it makes a difference as we have swarms of the bloody things.
 
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I will be very interested to hear from anyone if these traps are successful in stopping the problem of flies biting - I suspect not, and that the claims for the £150-00 one would not bear proper scrutiny. I do have some experience of entomology, and years ago was also used as live bait in comparison studies for LSHTM for biting midges and mosquitos, because they do like feasting on me. We tested various methods of repellent, and the only ones that worked were DEET and mosquito netting, preferably together. One expensive contraption claimed to sonically repel mosquitos with great success, and was said to be scientifically proven. The original documents when we traced them, referred to tests done on one female mosquito located in, IIRC, Sweden. And no, it did not work. What itchy painful memories this thread has brought back- all in the cause of science. No horses were involved then.
 
limestonelil said:
I will be very interested to hear from anyone if these traps are successful in stopping the problem of flies biting - I suspect not, and that the claims for the £150-00 one would not bear proper scrutiny. I do have some experience of entomology, and years ago was also used as live bait in comparison studies for LSHTM for biting midges and mosquitos, because they do like feasting on me. We tested various methods of repellent, and the only ones that worked were DEET and mosquito netting, preferably together. One expensive contraption claimed to sonically repel mosquitos with great success, and was said to be scientifically proven. The original documents when we traced them, referred to tests done on one female mosquito located in, IIRC, Sweden. And no, it did not work. What itchy painful memories this thread has brought back- all in the cause of science. No horses were involved then.
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I too have found that only DEET works. I have to be careful with our Shagya mare though as she is very sensitive to topical preparations.
 
We have a big black ball and it's pretty useless! Probably caught about 50 flys for us the whole of last summer. And we live in what sometimes looks like a fly swarm!!

Plus I think about as: for every one you catch another will take its place: p
 
i too use deet, and i bought a fly trap in a pound shop for 3 euros and its full of something black, so i reckon it works,but i left the top off.
 
Just got one and put it up yesterday. Has clearly caught some. I am not sure it is in the right place and might move it, but I am trying to keep it away from the horses. They need full sun and mine is in part shade. Not all fly species are caught, but I can see quite a few horse flies have been caught. They are very substantial and well made by the way - not surprised at the cost. The advice is to put them on the flight path that the flies use, between breeding area and the horses. Not quite sure how I work this out.
 
I have a H-trap. I put it up in April. The key is to get it up before you see any horseflies so that you cut down the breeding population from the beginning.

Last year one of my horses threw a splint in the field running around as he HATES horseflies they send him bonkers. They were so bad I could only turn out in the day. Another of my horses is a thin skinned tb and he was so lumpy last summer from all the bites.

This year I have not seen a single bite on the lad that threw a splint and the tb has only come in with a horsefly bite (that i have seen) about 5 times so far and they are happily out 24/7 now.

To the point about where best to put it I spoke to a seller and he said you have to experiment and see where you catch most but it was wacked in pretty deep and I don't fancy moving it around. I put mine about 15 metres in from the boundary of my field where on the other side (farmers land) there tends to be a pool of water (breeding ground I assume) after heavy rain. Seems to be doing the job.


The pot at the top is very full and needs emptying but I have not yet found my brave pants as scared one will escape and take vengeance! I react the same as the thin skinned tb!

This summer has been much drier for us so this is probably also a factor but it has got a big thumbs up from me!

They are expensive but I am very impressed with the build quality. We have had some quite stormy weather at times and it has survived.

I spoke to bloke at horseflytrap.co.uk and he said they had tested it at a notoriously horse fly ridden area in wales at a horse & pony charity and had great results, he was very helpfully and interesting to talk to. Would recommend having a chat with him to anyone that is interested in the product.
 
ponios said:
Last year one of my horses threw a splint in the field running around as he HATES horseflies they send him bonkers. They were so bad I could only turn out in the day. Another of my horses is a thin skinned tb and he was so lumpy last summer from all the bites.
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Sorry, cant edit now but meant to say I could only turn out at night
 
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