How To Get Rid Of Horse Flies
Horse flies, belonging to the Tabanidae family, are notorious pests with a global distribution. These blood-sucking insects can be found in various habitats, including forests, meadows, and even near water sources.
Apart from the painful bites, these pests can also transmit diseases to animals and humans, thereby posing a significant health risk.
Published: July 14, 2023.
Characterized by their large size, rapid flight, and robust build, horse flies can be easily distinguished from other flying insects.
The females are the primary culprits behind painful bites, as they require blood meals for their reproductive cycles. In contrast, male horse flies predominantly consume nectar and do not bite.
What Attracts Horse Flies?
Understanding what attracts these insects can help in implementing effective control measures to reduce their impact on humans and animals.
Visual and Thermal Cues
Horse flies are highly attracted to visual and thermal cues. They are drawn to large, dark, and moving objects, which they perceive as potential hosts. This explains why they often target livestock and other large mammals, including humans. Horse flies also have a preference for warmer temperatures, making them more active during sunny, hot days.
Additionally, these insects are sensitive to polarized light, which is why they are frequently found near water sources. The light reflected off the water's surface attracts horse flies, as it resembles the light patterns produced by the skin of animals.
Carbon Dioxide and Odors
Like many other blood-sucking insects, horse flies are attracted to the carbon dioxide (CO2) exhaled by animals and humans. This chemical cue helps them locate potential hosts from a distance.
Furthermore, horse flies are drawn to certain odors emitted by animals, such as sweat and other bodily secretions. These scents enable the insects to zero in on their targets and initiate feeding.
Breeding Sites
Female horse flies require a moist environment to lay their eggs, as their larvae develop in water or damp soil. This makes areas with standing water, marshes, or damp soil highly attractive to horse flies, as they provide suitable breeding sites.
Properly managing these sites can help in reducing horse fly populations.
Why Do Horse Flies Bite?
Horse flies bite to obtain blood meals, which are essential for the development of their eggs. Unlike mosquitoes, these pests are equipped with mouthparts that cut through the skin, causing intense pain and discomfort.
The horse fly's bite is not only painful but also facilitates blood flow, as the insect injects an anticoagulant saliva into the wound. This substance prevents clotting and allows the fly to feed freely.
The blood meal provides the female horse flies with essential proteins and nutrients required for the maturation of their eggs. As a result, each blood meal significantly contributes to the propagation of their species.
Although horse flies are more commonly associated with livestock, they do not discriminate and will readily bite humans and other animals as well.
How Long Do Horse Flies Live: Horse Fly Life Stages
Understanding the lifespan of these pests can help in implementing effective control measures and managing their populations.
Egg Stage
Female horse flies lay their eggs in clusters, typically on vegetation or other objects near water sources or damp soil. The eggs are usually black or dark brown and have a shiny appearance. The egg stage lasts for about 5 to 7 days, after which the larvae emerge.
Larval Stage
Horse fly larvae are aquatic or semi-aquatic, living in water or damp soil where they feed on other insects, small invertebrates, or decaying organic matter. The larval stage can last from several months to a year, depending on the species and environmental conditions.
During this time, the larvae go through several instar stages, growing and molting before they eventually pupate.
Pupal Stage
The pupal stage occurs on land, usually in moist soil. During this stage, the horse fly undergoes a significant transformation, developing its wings and other adult structures.
The pupal stage can last from one to three weeks, depending on the species and environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.
Adult Stage
Once the horse fly emerges as an adult, its primary focus is on reproduction. Adult horse flies typically live for a few weeks to a month, during which time they mate and feed. Female horse flies require blood meals to develop their eggs, while males primarily feed on nectar.
Splayed Deer Fly vs. Horse Fly: What's The Difference?
Both splayed deer flies and horse flies are members of the Tabanidae family, known for their painful bites and potential to transmit diseases. Despite their similarities, these two species exhibit distinct characteristics that set them apart.
Physical Appearance
Splayed deer flies (Chrysops spp.) are generally smaller than horse flies (Tabanus spp.), with body lengths ranging from 6 to 10 millimeters. They are characterized by their brightly colored, patterned wings, which often display dark bands or patches.
Additionally, splayed deer flies typically have iridescent, green, or copper-colored eyes, which can be quite striking.
Horse flies, on the other hand, are larger insects, with body lengths of 10 to 30 millimeters. Their wings are typically clear or lightly tinted, lacking the conspicuous patterns seen in splayed deer flies.
Horse flies also possess large, compound eyes, but their coloration is generally darker and less vibrant than that of deer flies.
Habitat
Both splayed deer flies and horse flies prefer habitats with a close proximity to water, as their larvae require moist environments for development.
However, splayed deer flies are often found in wooded areas, while horse flies tend to inhabit open spaces such as meadows, pastures, and marshes.
Despite these preferences, it is not uncommon to find both species in overlapping habitats.
Behavior and Biting Habits
The females of both splayed deer flies and horse flies require blood meals for egg development, making them the primary source of painful bites. Their biting habits, however, differ slightly. Splayed deer flies are more likely to target humans, often biting around the head and neck. Horse flies, in contrast, predominantly bite livestock and other large mammals, though they will also bite humans if the opportunity arises.
The feeding mechanism of these two species is also distinct. Splayed deer flies possess blade-like mouthparts that create small, linear incisions in the skin, while horse flies have scissor-like mouthparts that create larger, more painful wounds.
In both cases, the insects inject anticoagulant saliva to facilitate blood flow during feeding.
How To Get Rid Of Horse Flies?
Controlling horse fly populations can be challenging, but various methods can be employed to mitigate their impact on humans and livestock.
One such method is habitat modification, which involves reducing potential breeding sites. This includes maintaining proper drainage in wet areas, eliminating standing water, and clearing vegetation around water sources.
Trapping is another effective means of controlling horse fly populations. Commercially available horse fly traps can be placed strategically to capture and reduce the number of adult flies.
These traps often use visual or chemical attractants to lure the pests in. Additionally, insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin can be applied to exposed skin and clothing to deter horse flies from biting humans.
In some cases, chemical control measures might be necessary, particularly in areas where horse fly populations are high. Careful application of insecticides can help reduce the number of flies, but it is crucial to follow label instructions and guidelines to minimize risks to the environment and non-target species.
Consultation with pest management professionals can help determine the best course of action in such situations.
Few Final Words
Horse flies are formidable pests that pose significant challenges to both humans and animals. Their painful bites and potential to transmit diseases make them a primary concern in various settings.
Employing multiple strategies, such as habitat modification, trapping, and careful use of insecticides, can help control horse fly populations and reduce their impact.
It is essential to remain vigilant and proactive in managing these pests, ensuring the well-being of humans, livestock, and the environment.