bots

[Capriole]

its really weird but ive seen NO bot eggs on my gees this summer!

ive been expecting them, bot knife in hand, but when i look (daily) theres NOTHING THERE!

where have all the bot flys gone!

 

[TGM]

I've definitely noticed a decrease in bots over the last couple of years. I wonder if it has anything to do with the increase of ivermectin wormers - I recall reading somewhere that if everyone wormed with ivermectin after the first frost then bots would be completely eradicated!

 

[Capriole]

mm, they are wormed with moxidectin so you could have a point there

 

[fairhill]

Mine had a few bot eggs last week, but only for the one day! I thought it was because of the strange weather we've been having.

 

[Capriole]

could be, as its been like winter half the summer

 

[MizElz]

wild new forest ponies are covered in them!!!!

 

[Capriole]

yuck, are they, do they ever get wormed (probably stoopid question, but i have no clue what happens to NFs)

 

[Sprout]

Mine are covered in them, and not just front legs as normal, but all down their sides too, even though they are properly wormed etc., and I scrape them off daily.
Interesting what you said, MizElz, as I am in the New Forest!

 

[Capriole]

that explains it then sprout, all my bot flys have moved south to pester you nf lot

 

[Bossanova]

I think they've all come to ours!
We have a large number of thoroubred youngsters in the fields next to ours and the owner never worms them so we've got bots galore

 

[jennyb]

Thats funny, this is the first year mine has ever come in from the field with any, i've scraped them off her about 5 times so far.....
most peculiar