Those pesky damn crab flies!

[m3gan]

I have just moved horsey to new yard which is close to the horrible little blighters - crab flies- and wondered if any of you know of any deterrents which are effective against them. Failing that are there any flysheets available which cover the delicate bits at the rear end!which you can put under the saddle?

Thanks for reading!

 

[mik]

Hi there are you in the UK? we get these in Spain, I never saw them in the UK.
In this area we call them deer flies, here they use naf deet, or the spray from decathlon, also vaseline to cover the delicate areas, and if you get loads of bites aloe vera, (gel 99% no alcohol but if you can get a plant and liquidize a peeled leaf), watch yourself and the dogs too, they loved my old lab, she was black, apparently they go for dark colours.

 

[m3gan]

Hi MLK,
Yes I am in the UK - Dartmoor!
I understand that they (crab flies) are often in evidence where there are deer, so that is probably why they are here!!
Thank you for your info. I will try vaseline and the Naf Deet. I didn't know that they also were partial to dogs, I haven't heard of that in this part of the country.
Thanks again!

 

[StinkiPinki]

Ive had success with NAF Deet and crab flies, you need to apply it quite often , but it seems to actually kill the little buggers before they take hold!!

 

[SpruceRI]

Think Crab flies are prevalent in the New Forest too, as I bought some foals from the sales and they came 'wearing' a load of these flies.

Thankfully the little blighters didn't breed and once the foals were handable I could catch the things and crush them.

 

[Sprout]

I am in the New Forest and we definitely have them here!

So far I havent found anything that deters them.

 

[katie_southwest]

I have never found anything that works for crab flies! I have to ride late evening or early morning, and crush them when I find them on neddie