About horsefly control

Horseflies are insects which greatly resemble regular flies, with the exception of being significantly larger and darker. In fact, horseflies are the largest members of the fly species. They belong to the family Tabanidae of Dipthera order. There are more than 3000 species of these insects and many of them are carriers of diseases, including rabbit fever and anthrax.

However, the most dangerous members of this species are females since they are the only ones sucking human and animal blood. Females need blood in order to lay eggs. Thus, they bite and leave skin bumps which can be very painful and irritable. Due to this characteristic of these insects, many people do their best to keep horseflies at bay.

Dangers of Horseflies

Horseflies are considered to be pests, even though they play a vital role in pollen transfer. These insects are not prone to attacking only horses, as their name would suggest. Rather, they have no problem feeding on any warm blooded organism. Moreover, horseflies can infect humans and their pets with dangerous diseases.

Defense from Horseflies

In order to keep horseflies at bay, you need to prevent their infestations. In order for this to be possible, you need to find their breeding sites near your home and destroy them. Since horseflies prefer stagnant water areas like ponds or swamps, make sure you cover those near your dwelling. If horseflies have nowhere to live and breed, they will not pester you in the first place.

Even though horseflies attack randomly by using their vision, they are nevertheless attracted to strong smells. Thus, keep your bins and trashcans clean by throwing all your garbage on time. Until they are full, make sure you keep them closed tight, blocking rotten scents. If horseflies manage to reach a garbage site and infest it, use chemical pesticides to get rid of them.

Alternatively, you can kill a horsefly by attacking it physically. It is big and can easily be killed by a swatter or rolled up newspaper. This can only cause minimal losses to the swarm, but it can decrease its numbers regardless.

Also, you can use chemical repellents or you may opt for natural ones. All you need to make one is a tablespoon tea tree oil, the same amount of eucalyptus oil and a cup of water. Mix these ingredients and pour them in a spray can, using this against horseflies near your home.

Finally, you may want to use eco-traps for catching horseflies and keeping them at bay. These can be purchased in many stores and will prove to be more than useful for getting rid of horseflies once and for all.