ArizonaRealCountry.com 7 February 2019 • Fly boots, mesh coverings for the lower legs, can guard against stable flies and other insects that alight there. • Fly masks are see-through mesh shields that cover the eyes to ward off face flies and houseflies attracted to tears; some come with ear nets, coverings for the ears, which are useful if blackflies are a nuisance. Others come with fringed extensions that fall down over the nostrils to deter flies from landing there. In addition, some fly masks are designed for use with bridles to protect the face. • Ear nets, designed for use with a bridle, are crocheted cotton coverings that keep flies off of the ears and poll; many of these have a tasseled front edge that lies above the eyes for further deterrence. For extra protection, hang long panels of burlap or netting over the doorway, impregnated with fly spray. These will brush off and repel any flies on a horse’s coat as he pushes his way through the doorway—just be sure to train the horse to understand that he can get through what might look like an impenetrable barrier. In addition, stabling horses during peak insect activity periods may also help— turn them out at night if daylight fliers are prevalent. Horses sensitive to culicoides do better if stabled at dusk. LEAVE THEM NO PLACE TO GO • Inside the barn, automatic misting systems release fine sprays at regular intervals from nozzles in the ceiling. • Fans placed strategically to keep the air moving in the aisles and stalls can also deter flies. Smaller insects like houseflies and gnats prefer to fly in still air and the breeze also disperses the carbon dioxide a horse exhales, which can attract some flies. • A variety of traps are available, baited with food, pheromones or other attractants designed to appeal to different types of flies. House- and stable flies are attracted to scent lures, such as sugar or manure. Horseflies are attracted to dark colors, so a large black ball is sometimes used to lure them into a chamber they can’t escape. Fly sticks and tapes lure house- and stable flies onto sticky surfaces that entrap them. • Bug zappers are blue-light devices that electrocute flies drawn into an electric grid; two drawbacks are that they must be placed where they cannot be knocked down by animals, and they can also attract and kill beneficial insects. BREEDING GROUNDS • Remove manure from stalls and paddocks daily. Stable and housefly eggs, which are laid in manure, hatch after 10 to 21 days, so an ideal control practice would be to get the manure off the property each week. • Release beneficial predators. These tiny wasps or nematodes can be purchased from farm and garden suppliers. When sprinkled on manure or other breeding areas, they hatch and parasitize immature flies to reduce the number that reach adulthood. Feed through fly control products, added to each horse’s feed, pass harmlessly through his system but then kill any insect larvae hatched in the manure. • Compost manure. This process generates enough heat to kill any eggs. • Spread manure over fields. Just make sure the layer is thin enough that it dries quickly in the sun. Avoid spreading manure in pastures where horses are actively grazing, and keep it away from muddy, high-traffic areas that tend to remain wet. • Remove wet bedding as diligently as you do the manure. Stable flies are highly attracted to the smell of horse urine. It also helps to spread hydrated lime, also called “slack lime” on wet spots on stall floors. • Eliminate stagnant water where flies breed. Fill in potholes, clean clogged gutters, repair leaking plumbing and pick up unused items, such as flower pots, old tires, and toys that can collect rain. Rinse and refill water buckets each day, and remove fallen leaves and other debris from troughs. Ask the Vet continued from page 5 For extra protection, hang long panels of burlap or netting over the doorway, impregnated with fly spray. Used Tractors: Kubota, John Deere, New Holland, etc. New Tractors: Kioti 25, 35, 40, 45 & 50 Horsepower, we also carry the Backhoe Attachments for them. ...from UTV’S to Car Hauler’s, Landscape and Dump Trailers, Special Orders also available on New Trailers. Box Scrapers, Straight Blades, Rock Rakes, Chain Harrows, Arena Groomers, Brush Hogs, Post Hole Diggers, Post Drivers and More. TRACTOR We Service & Repair Tractors,Trailers & UTV’s.