There are some control measures you can take:
Flies breed rapidly in warm, moist spots like manure, decaying organic matter and garbage. Remove these regularly to make it harder for them to breed and so reduce their numbers. Use an effective insecticide and fly repellent such as SHOO-FLY®.
Types of Flies:
There are more than 120 000 species of flies. The common house fly, the most well-known, lays eggs in batches of 100-150 at a time. They will hatch in 8-12 hours and larvae start emerging. The larvae develop into pupae from which adult flies emerge. This whole cycle can be completed in 12 days under favourable conditions.
The stable fly (known scientifically as
Stomoxys calcitrans), attacks horses and dogs. On dogs, they
most often settle on the ear tips. Their piercing and sucking mouthparts eventually nibble away
the flesh and cause the ear tips to become scabby. Stable flies settle on the flanks or lower legs
of horses, their painful bite causing the horse to stamp and kick. This species of fly is not attracted
to baits and can transmit dangerous bacteria to man and animal.
The bot fly usually found on horses, irritates horses to such an extent that they can inflict damage on themselves and anyone
handling them. Horses nodding their heads or resting them on their companion's back is very often an indication of the
presence of horse bot fly. The horse bot fly also poses a serious health risk in that:
- larvae may cause dermatitis when they penetrate the skin;
- inflammatory reactions may occur when larvae attach themselves to the pharynx or stomach; and
- stomach bots can become so numerous that they cause gastrointestinal illnesses.
Products in the range include:
Shoo-Fly® Spray Shoo-Fly® OintmentShoo-Fly® is available from your veterinarian or veterinary retail outlet.
