Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), the stable fly (Figure 1), is a filth fly of worldwide medical and veterinary importance. Stable flies are known as filth flies or ankle biters-they lay their eggs in spoiled or fermenting organic matter mixed with manure, soil and moisture so these conditions often occur along feed bunks, edges of feeding aprons, along stacks of hay/straw, poorly managed compost piles, winter hay feeding sites, near water sources, etc. Fly Predators parasitize Stable Flies and are an effective control tool. Management of potential development sites should be completed fo… Houseflies, stable flies and horn flies can spread the bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, the causative agent of pigeon fever. Besides being annoying, their bites also spread parasites and diseases. The larvae feed and grow beneath the surface of the breeding material. Insect repellent does not work on stable flies. Click the image for helpful information regarding Zika Virus. These Stable fly eggs are laid in places such as decaying hay, straw, fermenting weeds, grass, and seaweed. Un-infested areas thus can become heavily infested almost overnight. Your Horse's Natural Fly-Control Strategies. Filth flies, including stable flies, are synanthropic, meaning that they exploit habitats and food sources created by human activities such as f… Remove other breeding areas like wet straw and mulch and all rotting organic matter. Facilities housing animals should be designed for easy removal of manure and cleaning of stalls frequently. Stable flies have a negative impact on beef production costs by affecting the required amount of time and feed needed to reach slaughter weight. We suggest outdoor fly traps such as the Flies Be Gone Fly Trap, Catchmaster Disposable Fly Trap, or the Advantage Fly Trap. Both houseflies and stable flies thrive in places where livestock manure and urine are present along with decaying organic matter such as spoiled feed and soiled straw. Stable Flies make up about 20% of the pest fly population around horses typically, but they are not attracted to House Fly traps. Furthermore, due to the dispersal capability of stable flies, larval development sites on your property may be causing problems for other animals that may be miles away or in residential areas where the flies feed on humans and pets. The larvae occur in decaying fibrous substrates: straw bedding, wet hay, algal mats and wet grass clippings, accumulations of manure from dairy and beef cattle, mixtures of soil and partially composted bedding and animal manure and crop by products. The bites Stable flies like to feed on the lower parts of the hosts such as the legs and belly of horses and cattle. Both the male and female stable flies take a bloodmeal. The stable fly adult is similar to the house fly in size and color. The bite is painful enough to disrupt outdoor activities such as picnics when stable flies are numerous. They bite people, livestock, pets and other mammals. Even though, the female requires a blood meal to lay eggs, both male and female feed on blood. Creating Apple Cider Vinegar and Witch Hazel fly Repellent: This is a natural outdoor fly repellent … Just ONE rotting barrel hay ring can produce 1 million biting stable flies. Equine formulation for safe, effective, feed-through fly control for stable flies and house flies Can be used with all classes of horses Fortified with NRC recommended levels of minerals and vitamins Convenient, 60-lb tubs can be easily placed where needed. During periods of high stable fly activity, humans can be severely annoyed and this insect has been called "the biting house fly." Some parasitoid wasps can be purchased commercially to enhance the number of wasps present on your property. Fly Control, a Horse Management Necessity. Click for a hub of Extension resources related to the current COVID-19 situation. Fly Traps and Tapes To catch adult flies outside of your barn, consider using fly traps that lure flies into them. Often known as biting House flies and stable flies need breeding material, moisture, and warmth to develop. Stable flies also known as "biting flies" can deliver a painful bite. Stable fly control The key to stable fly control is managing its larval habitats, ideally by their removal or drying out so they are less attractive. Stable Flies are sometimes confused with House Products sprayed directly to the infested breeding sites can be utilized. Cattle, horses, and people are typically bitten on the legs while dogs and swine are bitten on the ears. Not an important vector of animal pathogens. "Proper sanitation and management of manure is the best way to eliminate breeding sites and to control houseflies and stable flies," says Williams. Adulticides are very minimal and typically ineffective against stable flies. Protecting Your Horse From Strangles: Using Fly Control as Part of Your Strategy. Whether talking to the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine or a Texas ranch, horse owners agree that fly control involves a combination of assaults, and the more we learn about our resilient little foes, the better armed we are to win the war. Parasitic wasps, referred to as parasitoids, are particularly effective against horn flies and house flies but have shown poor results with stable flies thus far. It is important to remember that flies cannot develop in dry materials. LambdaStar UltraCap 9.7 or In the absence of these animal hosts, they will bite people and dogs. Stable flies are a developmental vector for Habronema microstoma, a spiruid nematode, which causes gastric and cutaneous forms of habronemiasis in horses throughout the world. Stable flies will feed on blood from practically any warmblooded animal, including humans, pets and livestock. Stable Flies can move great distances. Sprays are usually the best option for stable fly control, and require weekly applications to manage populations. Stable flies also have long, bayonet-like mouthparts for sucking blood. Cyper WSP. About 60 - 120 eggs are laid at a time with some flies surviving to lay two or more batches of eggs. may feel like a needle stab and typically occur around the ankles and lower parts of the legs. Flies and biting insects can ruin your horse's day. The Bite Free Stable Fly Trap is a trap that almost every horse owner should have, but most don’t. Control is warranted when bunching, stamping and tail switching is excessive or when the economic threshold of 3 stable flies per leg is met. The effects are greater when the weather is hot and humid; the bunching interferes with the animals’ ability to dissipate excess heat. The economic impact of the stable fly is very significant. “Researchers believe that the stable fly is programmed to target the places of an animal where the skin is soft and the capillaries are close to the surface. Fly control and flea control products can help reduce the pest population and keep your horse comfortable–in the barn, in the stable, and in the pasture. Use a feed-thru fly control product prior to the onset of the season to inhibit the development of adult houseflies and stable flies in the manure of treated horses. Mist blower sprayers can be used for this purpose; however, initial costs may be high. Trap options are limited for stable fly adults. Remove soiled bedding, old hay, spilt feed, clean up feed areas, and manure from drover’s allies at least once a week to limit and control stable fly habitat. Because stable flies mainly congregate around animals’ legs, it can be difficult to get adequate control with insecticides. 2 At higher infestations, cattle demonstrated even greater reduction in average daily gains. Areas along fence rows, under feed bunks, or wherever manure and straw or decaying matter can accumulate should be kept clean, because these substrates provide the medium in which the larval flies develop. Stable flies are very persistent when searching for a blood meal. STABLE FLY AEROSOL SPRAY ^ As a space spray, apply PT-565 daily as is needed. Stable Flies overwinter as larvae or pupae. Beneficial organisms such as predators, parasites and natural competitors occur naturally in similar breeding locations of the stable fly larvae. larvae pass through 3 instars and pupate in the last larval skin. Control nuisance flies that cause discomfort on your dairy farm. Many variations of this trap are still being tested with and without pesticides to increase the control measures of stable flies. There are two types of traps - those that attract flies visually (best for biting stable flies) and those that attract flies by odor (best for house flies). Large mammals – cattle, horses, donkeys, dogs, swine, sheep, goats and camels, and zoo animals. They require the blood meal for reproduction. The economic injury level for feeder cattle is when the stable fly population reaches an average of about five flies per front leg. Residual Insecticides: An easy way to eliminate existing stable flies is to find their resting area and spot spray with a residual sprays insecticide such as There are many fly control options and strategies available to Nebraska livestock producers to help manage the three fly species that economically impact grazing cattle; the horn fly, face fly and stable fly. The eggs and larvae are found in wet, decomposing straw found around round hay bales. Losses in feedlots will likely occur when the average number of stable flies per leg is 3 or more. The bunching behavior exhibited by dairy cattle will lead to increased body temperatures lower milk production. Stable fly populations as low as 5 stable flies per foreleg can cause economic losses in a feedlot situation. Houseflies are usually the biggest problem for horse owners; if you have stable flies, you'll need a different type of trap. One alternative is to combine the removal or management of fly-breeding material with the use of traps and parasitic wasps to kill both the adult and immature flies. A successful fly control program must rely on timely elimination of breeding sites and moisture control. Most filth flies can reproduce quickly in warm weather. Animals that are being attacked will stamp and kick their legs, as well as bunch together. Dry breeding grounds will encourage beneficial insect and mite development. I… Individual flies may feed more than The maggots from these flies use rotting organic matter to develop and the items in your barn or stable – straw, horse feed, hay, water, and urine – can provide the perfect environment for this. The stable fly larva requires six to twenty—six days to develop under normal summer breeding conditions. The average adult lives about How to Control: As with the majority of flies the first step is sanitation. Stable flies represent >90% of flies developing from rotting crop residues of either cauliflower, celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, potatoes and corn. A trap referred to as the Olson biting fly trap has a unique design that consists of a special fiberglass panel wrapped in a cylinder and attached to a stake 3-4 feet high. Know your enemy, the first rule of tactical warfare, also applies to the battle against the buzzing infiltrators in your barn. Stable flies rest on sides of barns and buildings, inside and outside animal stalls and around fences. Stable flies are usually found in open sunny areas, although they may enter a house during bad weather. Insecticides can help to provide some temporary reduction of house fly and stable fly populations but cannot be the basis of effective fly management. 20 days. Adding this feed-through as part of an IPM program can have a major impact on dairy cattle productivity. Since they target legs and ankles, loose-fitting long pants and thick socks are recommended when stable … The eggs hatch after 1 to 3 days into yellowish-white maggots/larvae. Flies. Pyrethrins are non-residual and only last for a short time. Control is warranted when bunching, stamping and tail switching is excessive or when the economic threshold of 3 stable flies per leg is met. The adults have a piercing/sucking proboscis that is used to extract a bloodmeal and seven circular black spots on a gray abdomen. They are only in contact with the host for 2-5 minutes and then rest on surrounding buildings or vegetation.