Bot flies.

[MDB]

Hi all. So after a few days of research on these pesky bees that have been bothering my horse I have learned that they are bot flies.. and all those damn grass seeds that won't come out with grooming are bot fly eggs. How do I get rid of them?? Phoned the local equine shop and I think they understood my Spanish but they couldn't help me. Suggestions please?

 

[Gloi]

You wan one of these http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/...cvJGjvtva3y_0S9eej_vqmAgUGSsf6IBXsaAhfi8P8HAQ
or any similar sort of blade and just scrape the beggars off.

 

[MDB]

You wan one of these http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/...cvJGjvtva3y_0S9eej_vqmAgUGSsf6IBXsaAhfi8P8HAQ
or any similar sort of blade and just scrape the beggars off.

Thanks.. that's what I need. Unfortunately can't get my hands on one right away due to my location.. will a regular sharp knife work?

 

[Gloi]

You don't want a sharp knife, something blunt with a serrated edge is best. Whatever scrapes them off without damaging the coat is okay... or a fine tooth comb will work too.

 

[Leo Walker]

Try a nit comb? Any chemist should have one and it should work

 

[Illusion100]

Saw 'Bot flies' and commenting purely to say OMG......gross. *just swallowed vomit*

Really hope you get rid of them OP.

 

[NZJenny]

A razor like you use to shave will do the trick. Carefully.

They used to be very common in NZ when I was a teenager, ok a long time ago, but the new generation of drenches killed them off. I actually had one hanging around the paddock last summer, drove my old mare nuts, but the youngsters didn't know what she was on about.

 

[MDB]

Thanks folks!
Illusion100 - lol.. yeah grossing me out too!
Lightbulb moment.. I have a flea comb for my dogs. Will try that. Or a serrated edge knife as Gloi mentioned.
My Spanish vet has just texted to say to put vinegar on them and comb them out or clip him in the affected areas!! Can't clip him.. he would look ridiculous! Will try alternative methods first

 

[hobo]

MDB very interesting you have bots, there was a post on here a little while ago saying how we do not see them nowadays. My OH suggested that it is because we all worm so much now and it has lessened the problem here in the UK.
In the 70's I used to look after a black Shetland and he used to turn orange in the summer. I have not seen them for years.

 

[BBP]

Fingernails are great for picking them off too, they just slide off the hair. I make sure I don't do it in the field though, or anywhere the horse could eat them as they graze. I hate bot flies even more than I hate horse flies!

 

[MDB]

Ok.. so I have tried a flea comb, serrated knife, and razor blade. I managed to get some out with the razor blade but it doesn't work on curvy parts of his body like legs. He still hundreds left. Is there a spray or anything similar which has insecticide in it to kill the eggs before they hatch?

 

[cambrica]

I'm touching wood as I say this but I haven't had any bot flys or eggs for about 5 years! No idea why although we are pretty good on poo picking and muck heap removal so I assume that may help.

 

[Gloi]

I've not tried it because I've never had that many but wiping with liquid paraffin on a cloth is meant to remove them.

 

[chancing]

Hi I'm interested in this as a relative newbie my horse has had problems the last couple of days with big bites on him with yellow hardened over scabs on top. Are these bot flies if so what can I do and is it harmful? He wears a fly mask and fly spray and there's a constant breeze in his paddock. Thankyou

 

[MDB]

Chancing - that doesnt sound like bot flies but I am not expert. My horse has very small yellow eggs which look like grass seeds all over him.
I am today washing him down with warm water which encourages the eggs to hatch. Then I have an insecticide to spray all over him which will kill a good number of the larvae. Then as I understand it I need to give ivermectin after the first frost to kill the internal parasites. Meanwhile antifly spray to prevent more eggs being laid. Not liking the sound of all these chemicals, but doesnt seem to much alternatives.

 

[Fun Times]

I scrape them off my horses legs using my thumb nail and index finger. I always make sure I do it out of his field and flick them into a bucket of boilimg water. But then we only get a small amount per year. Not sure the finger scrape technique could cope with mass extraction!