Horse Flies - How much of an issue are they?

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sam_115

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Hi

I am trying to find out how much of an issue horseflies are for horse owners. I work for a company that produces
specific chemical attractants for insect pests (mainly pheromones) and am aware of traps available for horseflies.
I have come across a potentially cheap alternative to the marketed traps but would really like to hear from horse owners
if, from their experience, horseflies are a harmful/irritating pest at stables (and therefore if such an item is necessary/useful).

Many thanks in advance to anyone who is kind enough to offer their experience or advice.

Many thanks


Sam Jones
 
Horseflies - particularly this year were a big issue in field and out hacking in countryside ...I didn't get horseflies following ponies into stables which is why they spent every hot summer day indoors. Could traps in fields work?
 
Fly traps are good but they do have a slight downside in that they need to be out of reach of the horses or they can be used as scratching places or be chewed and used as a toy. flies are a real pain as they drive the horses nuts if you are out riding and I have yet to find a spray which actually repels them and the horses in the fields cannot get away from them unless the shelter is deep enough to be dark inside. the ones with normal shelters have kicks on them where they are stamping and kicking at flies all day so for me that is a health issue. if a product was available at a reasonable price that attracted them it would be very useful to use in conjunction with (or to lure more flies to) the fly traps
 
Main problem I have with horse flies is when hacking, so not sure if a trap would help much. He's covered in a fly rug for protection in the field and inside the stables doesn't seem to be an issue.
 
My loan Welsh D mare is very badly affected by horseflies, they just seem to zone in on her; in the field she wears a Zebra fly-rug or other brand; when ridden and the flies are bad she has to have a ride-on fly rug in order to give her any peace whatsoever and stop her stressing out.

My Trad Cob doesn't seem to be bothered as much; if anywhere they seem to target his black bits (he's piebald); he has sweet itch so has to wear a Rambo when turned out anyway - inside he wears a light flyrug just in case any flies around.

TBH OP I can't see any use for a static device which is in situ at a building like a stable or yard, emitting "pheromones". Horseflies are NOT an issue in the yard so much as out hacking - when they're a blimmin awful pest which drive the horses (and us riders) crazy.

But perhaps your company can invent a mobile device which could be clipped on to the rider/saddle/horse........ which would then emit the substance/pheromone??? I think all of us would be very interested in something that is proven to work in that circumstance, but for me, I'd not be interested in anything which was static in a stable building as frankly can't see the use of it TBH.

Horseflies are mainly a problem either in the field OR in ridden work. Yes they are around in the yard - but you're talking about quite a big area (my yard anyway) and I wonder about the practicalities of such a device in that circumstance.
 
Many thanks for your replies. Horses eating or rubbing on a trap is an issue I had been thinking about and it is very useful to learn that the problem is more out in the field or while hacking. I want to try an attractant that is supposed to lure these flies. This could feasibly work in the field if raised above the horses or on the other side of a fence, maybe. Im not sure I can see how this would work with hacking as this actually exacerbate the problem bringing flies to your group. In the field the trap would be away from the horses most of the time so would be more effective, in theory. These flies appear to be attracted to a dark (black being most effective) reflective surface so the idea would be to use a sticky black reflective surface that the flies become adhered to once they land. This is not toxic but you wouldnt want your horses nibbling on it so it would need to be out of reach.
I would really appreciate your thoughts/ideas on whether this could work in some form

Many thanks again

Sam
 
sam_115 said:
Many thanks for your replies. Horses eating or rubbing on a trap is an issue I had been thinking about and it is very useful to learn that the problem is more out in the field or while hacking. I want to try an attractant that is supposed to lure these flies. This could feasibly work in the field if raised above the horses or on the other side of a fence, maybe. Im not sure I can see how this would work with hacking as this actually exacerbate the problem bringing flies to your group. In the field the trap would be away from the horses most of the time so would be more effective, in theory. These flies appear to be attracted to a dark (black being most effective) reflective surface so the idea would be to use a sticky black reflective surface that the flies become adhered to once they land. This is not toxic but you wouldnt want your horses nibbling on it so it would need to be out of reach.
I would really appreciate your thoughts/ideas on whether this could work in some form

Many thanks again

Sam
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I dont think you would need to have a sticky surface for the flies if you made something to attract them as once they get into the pot at the top of the trap they do not get out so for me its just a case of making the trap more attractive to them. surface that has x number of flies would be harder to maintain than one that you can spray a scent onto and then just have a pot to take away and empty. in your position I would be trying to work with the existing fly traps and getting the scent that can be used with them rather than trying to make a new surface that may or may not appeal to people and may or may not be as long lasting as the current traps. obviously I have not seen your product and have no idea if its sticky but from an advertising point of view and from the fact that I suspect most people would go for the easy removal of the flies from a pot rather than getting them off a sticky surface. just my immediate thoughts
 
sam_115 said:
Thats interesting, it maybe a regional thing. These flies are certainly around throughout Yorkshire. They come in different shapes and sizes, the most commonly encountered ones are grey and dull except for their striking metallic coloured eyes. There is another related group which are actually quite colourful (Chrysops group) - see link below:

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Chrysops+relictus
Click to expand...

Thanks sam_115, that's interesting!
 
I saw a fly trap contraption at Royal International, the lady explained that the flies are attracted to a shiny black surface as it get hot in the sun then I think they were sucked into a pipe, it was hugh though and I think it would have to be secured to the floor, I cant remember the name of it, I think it had water in it somehow sorry I am not doing a very good job at discription obviously was not listening very well was I.

Sentomol H trap just googled it.
 
Pinkvboots said:
I saw a fly trap contraption at Royal International, the lady explained that the flies are attracted to a shiny black surface as it get hot in the sun then I think they were sucked into a pipe, it was hugh though and I think it would have to be secured to the floor, I cant remember the name of it, I think it had water in it somehow sorry I am not doing a very good job at discription obviously was not listening very well was I.

Sentomol H trap just googled it.
Click to expand...
Thats like the ones we have basically its a black ball that hangs inside a sort of skirt and when the flies go to it they go up between the ball and the skirt into the pot at the top. all you do is keep an eye on the pot and empty it when there are enough flies in it. they come with a stand that just bolts together and you bash the bottom into the ground. takes about 15 mins to put it all together.
 
Around here the horse flies seem to be limited to very specific areas. For example our grazing doesn't have any. Yet 200 metres away on the bridlepath there are always loads of them! So for me, a field based trap wouldn't be much use.
 
crabbymare said:
Thats like the ones we have basically its a black ball that hangs inside a sort of skirt and when the flies go to it they go up between the ball and the skirt into the pot at the top. all you do is keep an eye on the pot and empty it when there are enough flies in it. they come with a stand that just bolts together and you bash the bottom into the ground. takes about 15 mins to put it all together.
Click to expand...

Do you think they work?
 
Pinkvboots said:
Do you think they work?
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Yes to a point! the downside is that they need to be the other side of the fence to the horses (so the flies do not always go to them instead of the horses) hence my being interested in the idea of a product that would attract more of them to the trap. certainly once they are there the pot does get quite busy and does trap them nicely
 
Hi Pinkyboots and Crabbymare - thanks for the information regarding the large horsefly trap. I have been away in France for a few days hence the delay in replying. This is the trap I know is on the market and is fairly expensive. I have a lot of dealings with Sentomol so was aware of this trap. I suppose the idea was to come up with a cheaper alternative that could could potentially be mobile and have an attractant combined. If anybody is having problems with horseflies and would like to test a stickyboard with and without lure for me I would be hugely grateful. I am also happy to provide a test lure for you to try Crabbymare.
Nudibranch - I think this might be because these flies like hedgerows and some shaded cover so may be more problematic in fields with hedgerows/shaded areas.
 
Horse flys are my major management issue in the summer they make horses lives miserable .
I looked at the traps the expense was to high to give good coverage of the areas grazed I manage the issue by bringing the horses in and avoiding area of hacking where they are at their worse .
 
sam_115 said:
Hi Pinkyboots and Crabbymare - thanks for the information regarding the large horsefly trap. I have been away in France for a few days hence the delay in replying. This is the trap I know is on the market and is fairly expensive. I have a lot of dealings with Sentomol so was aware of this trap. I suppose the idea was to come up with a cheaper alternative that could could potentially be mobile and have an attractant combined. If anybody is having problems with horseflies and would like to test a stickyboard with and without lure for me I would be hugely grateful. I am also happy to provide a test lure for you to try Crabbymare.
Nudibranch - I think this might be because these flies like hedgerows and some shaded cover so may be more problematic in fields with hedgerows/shaded areas.
Click to expand...
I would be more than happy to test one for you :) will send a pm the flies do seem to like hedges and arable fields where they can live in the crops. as soon as the rops are harvested they come out on almost a feeding frenzy and are worse than normal then they disappear and its the normal flies that just have horses swishing their tails and don't drive them totally nuts
 
Goldenstar said:
Horse flys are my major management issue in the summer they make horses lives miserable .
I looked at the traps the expense was to high to give good coverage of the areas grazed I manage the issue by bringing the horses in and avoiding area of hacking where they are at their worse .
Click to expand...

If simple black sticky boards are found to work well they would be a much cheaper method. If the lures are effective in attracting the flies to the traps then this potentially could be a remedy. Of course this will depend upon how many of these boards would be needed per acre. I plan to trial these next summer and see just how well they work. Hacking is a different issue and the only way I think it could work is to have some sort of sticky board that could be carried on the horse but I can see issues with this - things becoming stuck to it like hands/clothing/horses tongues etc. Maybe it could be worn on the back of riders?
 
crabbymare said:
I would be more than happy to test one for you :) will send a pm the flies do seem to like hedges and arable fields where they can live in the crops. as soon as the rops are harvested they come out on almost a feeding frenzy and are worse than normal then they disappear and its the normal flies that just have horses swishing their tails and don't drive them totally nuts
Click to expand...

Thanks Crabbymare - for the info and offering to test a lure - will check your pm.
 
sam_115 said:
Hi

I am trying to find out how much of an issue horseflies are for horse owners. I work for a company that produces
specific chemical attractants for insect pests (mainly pheromones) and am aware of traps available for horseflies.
I have come across a potentially cheap alternative to the marketed traps but would really like to hear from horse owners
if, from their experience, horseflies are a harmful/irritating pest at stables (and therefore if such an item is necessary/useful).

Many thanks in advance to anyone who is kind enough to offer their experience or advice.

Many thanks


Sam Jones
Click to expand...
If you mean in stables, my horses go in the barns to escape horse flies so I expect they aren't needed in stables but for fields, would the lures be effective there?
 
Many thanks Goldenstar, Twiggy2 and amandap for offering to help out. If you could pm me your email addresses and I will keep you up to date on preparations and when I plan to send out. I am concerned that we may be too late for this Summer now and may have to start next Spring - let me know if its still an issue with your horses and I can then see what I can do.

Amandap - I am planning for the traps to work in the field so that would be where they could be tested. I am hoping to produce a lure that attracts them to a black sticky board so that in theory the traps will cover a reasonable area (if the lures work well).

Many thanks

Sam
 
Thanks Crabbymare - your feedback is much appreciated. Another idea we could try is a black bucket trap (a pot basically that has 2 parts that slot together to put in the lure) containing the lure - these traps are used for some other types of fly pests. If we manage to find a potent lure then we can look to developing better ways of using it such as in a spray.

The sticky surface idea has come from research that has shown they like a flat shiny black surface - supposedly because it can appear like a stagnant water source (with reflection) which is where these flies lay eggs. The sticky boards basically would slot in/out of a holder to be thrown away and replaced once they came covered in flies - this is a system they use for greenhouse pests. However, a bucket trap would be be more practical as you say. I have been looking into a more spherical bucket trap that I can source in black to see if spherical black surfaces (such as on the sentomol trap) work as well/better than a flat surface.

Thanks again Crabbymare

Sam

crabbymare said:
I dont think you would need to have a sticky surface for the flies if you made something to attract them as once they get into the pot at the top of the trap they do not get out so for me its just a case of making the trap more attractive to them. surface that has x number of flies would be harder to maintain than one that you can spray a scent onto and then just have a pot to take away and empty. in your position I would be trying to work with the existing fly traps and getting the scent that can be used with them rather than trying to make a new surface that may or may not appeal to people and may or may not be as long lasting as the current traps. obviously I have not seen your product and have no idea if its sticky but from an advertising point of view and from the fact that I suspect most people would go for the easy removal of the flies from a pot rather than getting them off a sticky surface. just my immediate thoughts
Click to expand...
 
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