How to Fight Against Horse Flies

Horse flies hunt by sight and are vicious biters of both people and horses. They can transmit diseases like Equine Infectious Anemia and Potomac Horse Fever. Their eggs are deposited on vegetation around moist soil and near water. The larvae mature into flies in the late spring. Traditional fly sprays are ineffective when it comes to horse flies. The best way to fight against horse flies is trapping the female flies before they have the opportunity to bite and reproduce.

Use a biting fly trap

• These work by the flies seeing deflectors as open spaces and flying through them. They hit the deflectors and ricochet into the soapy water in the trays below. Dish soap is added to the water in the trays to cause the flies to drown faster. Studies have shown that the unit covers an average of 20 acres and one pound of biting flies each day.

Homemade fly trap

• Cut a plastic two liter bottle 1/4 down from the top. Invert the top portion into the bottom portion. Punch 4 holes in the top, tie some string to hold both portions together and hang. Add fly bait like honey and sit back confident you'll win the fight against horse flies.

Homemade fly paper

• Take some brown paper bags, cut into strips. Boil milk, pepper, and sugar together for 5 minutes. Simmer uncovered for another 5 minutes, until thickened, and then let the mixture cool. Wind the brown paper strips into a roll and drop them into the milk mixture. Rewind the strips gently and let them air dry. They are ready to hang when they are sticky to the touch.

Homemade fly repellant

• This helps in the fight against horse flies by repelling them for a brief period of time. Take 2 cups of light mineral oil and 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Add 2 teaspoons of citronella oil and 2 of eucalyptus oil. Mix with 2 teaspoons of lemon dish detergent and pour in a spray bottle.