PurBee
Well-Known Member
Now its got warmer and sunnier in west ireland - legions of horseflies have erupted. 3 bites yesterday. The horses were surrounded - just hoffifying really. Sprayed them all over with a lincoln spray…cant remember which one….even sprayed directly onto a horsefly already biting the horse, and the b*gger didnt fly off!
Im convinced, when these things first hatch and swarm, nothing puts them off from getting a sup of mammalian blood.
Horses have free choice of going out to loads of lush grazing or staying in dark stable….since horseflies are out, they chose the stable.
Trouble is, when the day is drawing closed, getting cooler and the horseflies ’go to bed’, the swarms of midges erupt early evening and throughout the mild nights, so horses really are challenged this time of year. I spend a lot of time employing various tactics to reduce exposure but its a battle.
Im considering, for their sake, of selling them, as this wild valley environment surrounded by midge-breeding havens that are sitka spruce plantations is just too much for mammals to bear. We are selling up but its not going to be a rapid sale.
Biting bugs, in large numbers , for months at a time, really do make a place unliveable. 13yrs of it, we’ve all had enough!
Im convinced, when these things first hatch and swarm, nothing puts them off from getting a sup of mammalian blood.
Horses have free choice of going out to loads of lush grazing or staying in dark stable….since horseflies are out, they chose the stable.
Trouble is, when the day is drawing closed, getting cooler and the horseflies ’go to bed’, the swarms of midges erupt early evening and throughout the mild nights, so horses really are challenged this time of year. I spend a lot of time employing various tactics to reduce exposure but its a battle.
Im considering, for their sake, of selling them, as this wild valley environment surrounded by midge-breeding havens that are sitka spruce plantations is just too much for mammals to bear. We are selling up but its not going to be a rapid sale.
Biting bugs, in large numbers , for months at a time, really do make a place unliveable. 13yrs of it, we’ve all had enough!