Protection from gadflies in nature. Remedy for horseflies - we choose the best to protect humans and livestock. Remedies against horse flies

Quite a few troubles in nature, in the warm season, are caused by the presence of various flying blood-sucking insects, such as mosquitoes, midges, midges, horseflies, gadflies and others. They bite, get into the nose, ears, hair, under clothes. Insect bites cause burning, itching and pain, sometimes inflammation and swelling. In addition, some of them can be carriers of a number of dangerous diseases.

To protect against blood-sucking insects, various repellents are used in the form of aerosols, solutions, ointments, pastes and lotions, and all kinds of protective nets that cover the face and neck. However, repellents have their drawbacks; they should not be used too often and can cause skin irritations and other allergies in some people.

Plants that repel flying blood-sucking insects, protection against mosquitoes, midges, horseflies and gadflies while hiking.

If repellent or protective net is not available, they will come to the rescue wild plants which have strong insecticidal and repellent properties and have long been used to repel and destroy harmful insects.

With the help of plants such as bird cherry, wormwood, elderberry, tansy and others, you can provide yourself with a quiet night in nature. And other plants, in addition, will help if insect bites still cannot be avoided.

Marsh rosemary.

Marsh wild rosemary has pronounced insecticidal properties. The powder of this plant is used to fumigate rooms to kill bedbugs, and in hiking conditions It is enough to burn a few branches of wild rosemary in the tent and a relaxing holiday is guaranteed. It is necessary to use wild rosemary carefully, since all its parts are poisonous, and the strong odor causes headache. Therefore, after fumigation you need to ventilate well.

Elderberry is herbaceous.

This plant is mainly distributed in the southern regions, found in clearings and along the banks of reservoirs. Thickets of this grass emit an unpleasant and intoxicating odor. Unlike black elderberry, whose flowers have healing properties, and the fruits are edible, the herbaceous elderberry is a poisonous plant, especially its fruits. The smell of herbaceous elderberry repels insects.

White sweet clover.

Outwardly similar to sweet clover, which can grow next to it. Only the flowers of sweet clover are slightly larger and yellow in color. Only white sweet clover has insecticidal properties, and it should be used to repel insects. Fresh stems and leaves of sweet clover must be crushed until thick green juice appears and hung overnight.

Common toadflax.

This weed grows among the grains, garden crops, along roads, on forest edges, near bodies of water. Picking a few fresh stems of grass and placing them in your tent will repel most insects that don't like the smell of the grass.

Common tansy.

Grows in forest clearings, among bushes, on clay and sand quarries, near the roads. Tansy has a strong odor that repels various insects. To get rid of flies and mosquitoes, just put a few of its stems in the tent.

In addition, tansy can be used to relieve discomfort from bites by applying the crushed leaves of the plant to the site of the bite. Powder from tansy leaves and inflorescences also has insecticidal properties. To prepare it, the plant is dried in the shade and then ground.

Wormwood.

It is distributed everywhere, even from afar you can feel its sharp, specific smell, which many insects cannot tolerate. To repel blood-sucking insects, wormwood is scattered fresh or dried, and bunches of it are hung. This plant also helps relieve itching and pain from bites and prevents the formation of swelling. To do this, the wounds are lubricated with fresh wormwood juice.

Pharmaceutical camomile.

She is often confused with others similar plants, you can distinguish chamomile from its relatives in the following way - if you carefully cut the base of the basket, you will find a cavity inside. This is the surest sign to identify pharmaceutical chamomile. Chamomile contains substances, the smoke from which, when burned, repels mosquitoes and midges; just throw a few stems of this plant into the fire.

Black hellebore.

Grows among bushes, on forest edges, and wet meadows. Black hellebore is very poisonous plant, especially at a young age. By burning the stems of the cherry tree, you can drive insects out of the tent or. Ventilation is required.

Common bird cherry.

Grows in the undergrowth or in the second layer of deciduous and mixed forests, among shrubs, on damp places, water meadows. Its leaves and flowers emit special biologically active volatile substances - phytoncides, their smell drives away insects. It is useful to scatter fresh bird cherry leaves around the tent or hang a few branches at the entrance.

Plants that relieve pain, itching and burning after insect bites.

Dandelion officinalis.

Used to relieve itching and burning from insect bites, the sore spot is smeared with white milky juice that appears on the cut of a leaf or flowering shoot.

Black nightshade.

Fresh leaves of black nightshade have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects. Applied to the site of a mosquito, horsefly, bee or wasp bite, they relieve pain and prevent the formation of edema.

Thyme (creeping thyme).

Used for wasp and bee stings. Flowers and leaves are crushed and applied to wounds.

The plantain is big.

It is found almost everywhere, growing along roads, in wastelands and waste places, near housing, in meadows. Great plantain leaves are used to relieve itching and burning from insect bites. To do this, you need to grind them and apply them to the bite site.

For humans, it is characterized by severe pain, as well as a local reaction at the site of injury. These insects cause a lot of inconvenience, especially to those people who summer time are often forced to be near pastures. Fishing enthusiasts or people simply living near bodies of water also face the need to apply protective measures. To avoid unpleasant consequences, you should know how to choose an effective remedy for gadflies and horse flies for humans.

Chemicals

The remedy for gadflies and horseflies is a kind of analogue of midges and other blood-sucking pests. The only difference is in the concentration of the active substance. All preparations based on the substance DEET have proven themselves well. Almost all popular products contain it. When choosing what to smear against gadflies, you need to pay attention to the content of this substance.

On a note!

All creams and aerosols containing less than 20% DEET are ineffective and will not provide complete protection against gadflies and horse flies.

Picnic

A chemical repellent, the main task of which is to protect against gadflies and horse flies in nature. Available in aerosol form in a 125 ml can. Be sure to shake the product before use. Applied to human clothing and skin. Ensures the repellence of gadflies and horse flies within 2-3 hours after treatment. Do not use more than 2 times a day. Price from 150 rubles.

The whole family uses products from the Picnic line. They help perfectly and provide a comfortable rest in nature. 2 cans are enough for the whole summer and we always remain without bites. I really like the wide spectrum of action of the drug, as it provides protection against mosquitoes, midges and ticks.

Olga, Ivanovo

Argus

Repellent against fleas, midges, cockroaches, horseflies, mosquitoes, gadflies, mosquitoes and midges. The active ingredient is DEET. The series also includes aerosols and spirals. The average cost for 100 ml of spray is from 90 rubles.

How to protect yourself from gadflies and horse flies:

1. Shake the can.
2. Direct the flow to open areas bodies and clothes.
3. Protection is provided for at least 4 hours.

On a note!

During processing, it should be taken into account that the substance remains on clothing much longer and can act for up to 20 days after application.

OFF

A popular remedy for gadflies and horseflies helps immediately after application. Protects against flying blood-sucking insects and ticks. The active component is diethyltoluamide at a content of 30%. A clear advantage is the ability to purchase the product at any mall, a specialty store or on the Internet. Price from 250 rubles.

I like the entire line of OFF drugs. Saved me from mosquitoes at the dacha every year. Most often they bought creams. But this summer they faced a more serious problem. Gadflies appeared in large numbers and severely bit animals and people. There was nothing else at home, so I tried OFF. The result was amazing, it helped, but it only lasted no more than an hour.

Oksana, Voronezh

Folk remedies

If you don't have it at hand finished product, and there is no way to get to the store, folk remedies for gadflies and horse flies will always come to the rescue. Their main principle is to repel insects specific odors. The active ingredients in most cases are similar to those with which a person can protect himself from mosquitoes and midges. The only difference is the concentration and duration of action.

Tar

An old proven remedy for gadflies and horse flies. It is inexpensive and has a very specific and rich aroma. If you use an oil solution, it is ensured long action. The substance is very difficult to wash off from human skin. It can only be removed by thoroughly rinsing it off. hot water or visiting the bathhouse.

The product must be applied to exposed skin. If you stay outside for a long time, update protective layer necessary every 2-3 hours.

Tar has more than once come to the rescue when attacked by mosquitoes and midges. It turned out to be ineffective against gadflies and horse flies. But friends suggested that it can be mixed with the drug DEET, then the effect will last for a very long time. This mixture lasts for a long time and you don’t have to worry about getting bitten.

Andrey, Sevastopol

Vishnevsky ointment

This product perfectly protects the hands from the bites of horseflies and gadflies. The drug is based on Birch tar, xeroform and castor oil. The substance is very greasy, so protect clothing during use.

On a note!

The smell of this ointment is very unpleasant even for humans, so insects also try not to get close to it. To use, you need to prepare a gauze bracelet according to the size of your hand. After this, generously spread the gauze with liniment.

To protect the territory

If bloodsuckers also infest your home, then you can treat the area with the prepared solution. You will need lemon ammonia, mint mouthwash, and lemon-scented soap. Mix the ingredients to form a liquid substance and treat the area.

I admit that lemon and mint could scare off gadflies or horseflies, but the concentration of the product should be prohibitive. Otherwise, there is virtually no effectiveness. Or use in combination with special anti-mosquito coils. But just a lemon-mint cocktail turned out to be ineffective.

Alina, Vladivostok

Site protection

Scare away the gadfly and horsefly from summer cottage Some crops may. They are planted between beds with ordinary plants or along the perimeter. For these purposes you can use:

• Dalmatian chamomile;
• tomatoes;
• cloves;
• basil;
• bird cherry;
• anise

When considering the question of what repels horseflies and gadflies, one should also indicate pine aromas. Infusions are made from spruce needles or simply laid out around the area. Also, before going to the habitats of gadflies and horseflies, you should carefully consider your clothing. It should be as dense as possible temperature regime terrain. Some experts suggest wearing sweaters and pants made of thick fabric so that the thickness of the material exceeds the length of the bloodsucker's proboscis.

On a note!

Additional protection will be provided by the absence of black color in clothes, since it is this color that attracts insects.

Thus, it is very difficult to fight gadflies or horse flies. They are resistant to many poisons and can withstand even unpleasant odors. Therefore, in order to count on full protection, you should approach the issue only in a comprehensive manner. Simultaneous use of chemicals and correct form clothing will significantly increase the chances of remaining without bites. Also help in the fight, which you can do yourself.

Gadflies are insects that are primarily dangerous to farm animals. But some species also pose a threat to humans. In addition, their obsessive buzzing irritates humans, and the individuals themselves can become carriers of infections. How to get rid of gadflies?

What kind of insect is this?

Female gadflies are very fertile

Biologists distinguish three large groups of gadflies:

Only one species of skin botfly, Dermatobia hominis, attacks humans. There is a lot going on about his activities. scary stories. Indeed, sometimes the larvae can penetrate the skin and even the eyes of people. But the human gadfly lives in Central America, so only travelers to exotic countries should be wary of Dermatobia hominis.

There are no specialized remedies for gadflies, so livestock breeders usually use chemicals wide spectrum of action. For example, these could be:

These products can be purchased at stores that sell agricultural products.

How to process?

When treating livestock with chemicals, you need to follow certain rules:

1. Before use, you need to read the instructions for the product, paying attention to each point, and strictly follow the recommendations.
2. While working, it is important to use gloves, and even better, wear a respirator. This will prevent toxic substances from entering the body through respiratory system or through the skin.
3. A hand sprayer is usually used to treat livestock. But some animals are afraid of this device. In this case, their body is treated with a sponge soaked in a chemical.

Compliance with safety precautions will protect you from the unpleasant consequences of working with toxic substances.

Means of protection against horse flies and gadflies for humans include universal sprays and aerosols that repel large insects. For example, these are drugs from the companies “Gardex”, “Moskitol” and others.

Traps

There are various traps on sale for horseflies, gadflies and other large insects. The most primitive design is adhesive tape. It can be hung in agricultural premises or on door jambs. The disadvantages of such a trap are its low efficiency and the need to constantly replace the tape with a new one. There are also light and mechanical models. The principle of their action is based on luring insects with their subsequent death. A special bag trap for flies will also work.

With your own hands

You can make a trap for gadflies yourself with a little effort and time. Livestock breeders recommend building a special cone-shaped frame made of wire or thin slats with walls made of white fabric. A black ball is suspended in the center of the structure, and a hole is made at the top that opens into an insect receptacle from a plastic bottle.

Important! To enhance the effect, you can add a sticky substance or a poisonous insecticide to the container.

Once every few hours the ball should be spun, which will attract insects - they like the black color. Gadflies, horseflies and other flies fly up to the object to study it. Having made sure that he is of no interest to them, they fly up, finding themselves imprisoned in the receiver.

Another variation homemade trap This type of insect trap operates on the same principle, but differs in shape and materials of use. The design resembles a black cow. This is the trap of “passive” work that does not need to be moved. It is enough to periodically clean the receiver.

Folk remedies in the fight against gadflies and horseflies

Some folk remedies have proven themselves in the prevention and control of gadflies. Most of them have a repellent effect. But it is important to take into account that the effect of such drugs is very short, because the substances quickly erode, and it is necessary to treat premises or livestock with them on average every 5 days.

1. In the simplest cologne, having affordable price, dilute clove powder (it can be ground in a coffee grinder). This composition is infused for 10 days.
2. Solution liquid soap in 4.5 liters of water. They can be used to treat animals without harm to their health.
3. Gadflies are repelled by the smell of mint, lemon ammonia or soap.

You should not rely solely on folk remedies. If the problem of infestation of livestock by gadflies is acute, then to achieve the result it is necessary to use other, more effective means.

Prevention

1. Cleanliness of the place where animals are kept and walked is one of the keys to successful prevention of attacks by gadflies. It is necessary to promptly remove manure and change bedding, clean channels or dishes for washing. Some livestock breeders practice treating manure heaps with broad-spectrum insecticidal preparations.
2. Standing water should not be allowed near animals. If necessary, you should build a good drainage system ensuring the drainage of excess moisture. Buckets of water should be removed after animals drink. If there is a pond on the site, then during the period of active breeding of gadflies it should be covered with film.
3. Tall grass is one of the favorite habitats of horseflies and gadflies. On hot days, they hide in it from the scorching rays of the sun, finding in the shade of plants the moisture necessary for life and reproduction. Therefore, the grass, especially near livestock, needs to be constantly trimmed.
4. It is recommended to castrate animals in winter time years, because wounds after surgery are an easy way for gadfly larvae to enter the body.
5. Livestock should be inspected regularly, if necessary combining this with wool cleaning.

By following these simple tips, you can protect animals from gadfly larvae.

Help with a gadfly bite

If, during examination of the animal, bite marks are noticeable on its skin, then the affected area should be lubricated with Vaseline oil. It will reliably fill the hole made by the larva and the nearby pores. This will block the access of oxygen. When the larva dies, its body is removed from the wound with disinfected tweezers to prevent putrefactive processes. The area around the implantation of the larvae is treated with an antiseptic - this will help prevent inflammation due to infection.

For effective solution problems, different methods of controlling gadflies should be combined. Following the prevention recommendations will reduce the number of insects infecting animals. Knowing what to fear from horse flies and gadflies and how to deal with them, you can avoid damage to your farm.

In the warm season, the fight against blood-sucking insects very important. However, in order to competently use the tools existing in this area, you need to know their strengths and weak sides. ABOUT various methods, using which you can protect cattle, this article tells. Here we will tell you how to treat a cow against gadflies and horse flies at home.

Caring for cows at home

Start preparing for summer period makes sense already in mid-March. To protect against insects, it is necessary to treat not only the cattle, but also their stalls.

On a note. An important means in the fight against blood-sucking insects can be simple adherence to hygienic standards for keeping animals.

Some breeds of cattle have natural means to combat or at least reduce the damage caused by blood-sucking insects. These include:

1. Thick skin that insects cannot bite through.
2. The presence of a tail with which you can fan yourself and, to some extent, repel insects.

Of course, such control methods can only be partial and do not allow you to completely get rid of insects. However, some parts of the body still remain defenseless. The udder is practically not protected from bites. Here the tail will not be able to get rid of problems.

Caring for cows at home

About flies, gadflies, horseflies, ticks

When they say that insects irritate cows, this is only one of the problems they bring. Many diseases can spread through them.

There are several examples:

• Even ordinary flies, which bite cows, are very dangerous as carriers of helminths, thelaziosis, and various infectious diseases.
• Horseflies not only leave painful bites on the cow's body, but also transmit filariasis and anthrax.
• Burner flies, which bloom in mid-July and are known for their painful bites, carry brucellosis and habronematosis.
• An insect such as a tick poses a great danger. Not only does it suck the cow's blood, but it also spreads mange. They usually bite the udder, external genitalia, and the area under the tail.
• Midges are especially dangerous not only because of the bites themselves, but also because of their numbers. Lumps from their bites on the udder can cause mastitis.

Important! The time when a cow regains her strength after calving is especially dangerous from the point of view of the possibility of infection by insects.

• Subcutaneous gadflies spread hypodermatosis. When they bite, they make an incision in the cow's skin, then lay larvae inside. They gradually penetrate inside, infecting the circulatory and digestive systems. As they spread, they concentrate at certain points, forming a colony. A boil usually occurs at this site. When they emerge as adults, they leave the cow's body. At the same time, they gnaw a way out and crawl out through it. The wounds do not heal for a long time and begin to rot.

Thelaziosis is an infection of the eyes of cattle by helminths. The larvae mature under the eyelid and then penetrate the mucous membrane of the eye. The result of the disease can be the animal's blindness.

How to treat a cow against gadflies and horse flies

Means for such a fight can be divided into several types:

1. The use of repellents helps repel insects. As a result, they should stop approaching cattle.
2. The action of insecticides is organized in a different way. They are designed to kill blood-sucking insects.

On a note! This need arises with the onset of a warm period. If this is not taken care of in time, it is never too late to take the necessary measures.

In addition to those mentioned, you can consider medications that help fight itching after a bite. Some means are indirect. These include the need to comply with the relevant hygiene rules for cattle.

Folk remedies can also be used in this area, but their effectiveness is less than that of repellents from a veterinary pharmacy.

How to treat a cow against gadflies and horse flies

In this capacity the following can be used:

1. Diesel fuel.
2. Processing with machine oil.
3. Birch tar.
4. Some other products that, when applied, have a strong odor that repels insects.

Their validity period is such that they can only be used as long as they retain a strong and pungent odor.

Interesting! Here's how to treat cattle against gadflies: tar can be purchased at a pharmacy, or you can also go to a specialized store for this. Typically, an oil or water solution is used to control insects. To apply it, use a sprayer.

There is another form of its use. If animals are bathed using tar soap, it can also help control blood-sucking insects. This could be a fly repellent for cows.

However, the option under consideration has an unpleasant side effect: if tar was used, this may affect the formation of the appropriate flavor in the milk.

Additionally, this horsefly remedy for cows only works for a very limited time. As a rule, no later than four hours later, the effect of using tar disappears.

To combat insects, some farmers use diesel fuel. This remedy is effective due to its sharp and unpleasant smell. Unfortunately, if applied, the smell affects not only the flying bloodsuckers, but also the cow itself. Due to this circumstance, it is not recommended to use diesel fuel too often for this purpose.

On a note! Typically, this substance is coated on various areas of the skin of cattle. It is believed that it is necessary to treat only that part of the body where the cow cannot fan herself with her tail. This is how you can treat cows against gadflies.

The listed folk remedies have an important drawback: it is not recommended to smear the udder with them. Here's an example folk remedy which can help in in this case: for this purpose it is recommended to mix one part shampoo with two parts vegetable oil. At the same time, you can take any shampoo and oil that you have in the house. Instead of shampoo, if it is more convenient, it is permissible to use bath foam.

Important! You need to mix thoroughly. It is necessary to obtain a homogeneous mass with which the cows will be processed. This mixture can be used to lubricate the entire animal and, in particular, the udder. After the cow comes from the pasture, you need to wash off the composition with warm water.

The effectiveness of the method in question is approximately 80-90%. The composition repels gray horse flies, yellow flies, mosquitoes, midges and other insects. It is not very effective against botflies, but they bite during the hottest period of the day, and during the morning and evening hours they usually do not fly. This solution should be smeared on the udder, on the face, behind the ears, “under the armpits” of the cow. Some people add vinegar to this composition, which increases the effect of this product.

Sometimes there is a need to soften the consequences of a bite and remove the itching. In this case, the following procedure may help:

1. The bite site is smeared with honey.
2. Cover with cabbage leaf.
3. Wrap in cellophane.

On a note! This remedy not only softens the effects of bites, but also helps soften the skin of the udder during mastitis.

How to repel pests (repellents for cattle)

There are commercially available products that allow for such prevention. You can choose from the following options.

You can buy Bayofly pur-on. It has an effective repellent and anti-insecticidal effect. It has the greatest effect in the fight against dipterous insects, including midges, horseflies, gadflies and other types of insects.

Interesting! This is an effective remedy against gadflies and horse flies for cows. The action of the drug in question is based on the use of the active substance cyfluthrin. The principle of its effect is based on interrupting the passage of nerve impulses in insects. Initially, this creates a lack of coordination of movements. Paralysis gradually begins, which leads to the death of the insect.

Repellents for cattle

Mode of application this tool is simple:

1. No more than 10 ml of product is required per animal. It is applied to the skin: from the mane to the tail of the cow.
2. Validity ranges from four to six weeks. All this time there is no need to re-process.
3. It is recommended that for a new treatment not to wait for the full expiration date, but to repeat the procedure approximately two or three weeks after the previous one.

They are commercially available in concentrate form. Before use, they must be dissolved in water. To do this, it will be enough to take 1 ml of concentrate and dissolve it in a liter of water. The specified quantity will be sufficient to carry out a complete and high-quality processing one cow. It is carried out using a spray bottle. The effectiveness of these products decreases within two or three days after treatment.

Let's talk about Sebacil in more detail. The drug is applied only to clean skin of the cow. Effective against gadflies and horse flies. Phoxim is used as the active substance. It is an insecticide that has a contact effect.

When using Aversect, you must strictly follow safety regulations. Under this condition, it will not be dangerous to people and animals. The main substance of the drug is aversectin C-complex. It can effectively protect against subcutaneous gadfly. Also effective against various types blood-sucking flying insects.

On a note! Aversect is also a drug of a similar type. It is an insecticide that attacks insects by direct contact.

Cyflunite has the following characteristics:

1. It can be considered as a dual-use product: it can be both a deterrent and a way to destroy blood-sucking insects.
2. Current active substance The drug in question is cyfluthrin. It belongs to a group of substances called synthetic pyrethroids. Can be effectively used to protect cows from mosquitoes, midges, horseflies or gadflies. As an insecticide it has contact action. Also shown to be effective as a repellent.
3. The drug is effective; it is recommended to entrust the treatment of cattle to a specialist.
4. Retains its strength for a month, in some cases for 40 days.

Cyflunite

Special aerosols can be used to protect cattle. In this capacity, Extrazol, Centaur, Alezan, Oksarep and some other similar products will be effective. Although they are quite effective, their effect occurs over a short period of time.

One of the most suitable for this is Sanofit. It works based on the use of eucalyptus, laurel, and menthol oils. It also contains camphor. This drug can be used to protect the entire body. Its action can be considered as double. It not only repels insects, but also heals existing insect bites.

Important! For preparations that need to be used to lubricate the udder, the least protected part of the cow’s body from insects, special requirements. Not all of them can be used for this purpose.

Not bad the folk way fight against blood-sucking insects is the use herbal infusions. This method has the advantage that it does not have a negative effect on the cow and cannot affect the quality of the milk.

To prepare infusions, you can use mint, tansy, bay or wormwood. You can take these plants in arbitrary combinations. They can not only repel insects, but also treat bites.

When choosing suitable options to combat bloodsuckers, to protect domestic animals, can be used various ways. They all have their own characteristics that you need to know in order to make the right choice.

Gadflies are insects that are primarily dangerous to farm animals. But some species also pose a threat to humans. In addition, their obsessive buzzing irritates humans, and the individuals themselves can become carriers of infections. How to get rid of gadflies?

What kind of insect is this?

Female gadflies are very fertile

Biologists distinguish three large groups of gadflies:

Only one species of skin botfly, Dermatobia hominis, attacks humans. There are many horror stories about his activities. Indeed, sometimes the larvae can penetrate the skin and even the eyes of people. But the human gadfly lives in Central America, so only travelers to exotic countries should be wary of Dermatobia hominis.

There are no specialized remedies for gadflies, so livestock breeders usually use broad-spectrum chemicals. For example, these could be:

These products can be purchased at stores that sell agricultural products.

How to process?

When treating livestock with chemicals, you need to follow certain rules:

1. Before use, you need to read the instructions for the product, paying attention to each point, and strictly follow the recommendations.
2. While working, it is important to use gloves, and even better, wear a respirator. This will prevent toxic substances from entering the body through the respiratory system or through the skin.
3. A hand sprayer is usually used to treat livestock. But some animals are afraid of this device. In this case, their body is treated with a sponge soaked in a chemical.

Compliance with safety precautions will protect you from the unpleasant consequences of working with toxic substances.

Means of protection against horse flies and gadflies for humans include universal sprays and aerosols that repel large insects. For example, these are drugs from the companies “Gardex”, “Moskitol” and others.

Traps

There are various traps on sale for horseflies, gadflies and other large insects. The most primitive design is adhesive tape. It can be hung in farm buildings or on door frames. The disadvantages of such a trap are its low efficiency and the need to constantly replace the tape with a new one. There are also light and mechanical models. The principle of their action is based on luring insects with their subsequent death. A special bag trap for flies will also work.

With your own hands

You can make a trap for gadflies yourself with a little effort and time. Livestock breeders recommend building a special cone-shaped frame made of wire or thin slats with walls made of white fabric. A black ball is suspended in the center of the structure, and a hole is made at the top that opens into an insect receptacle from a plastic bottle.

Important! To enhance the effect, you can add a sticky substance or a poisonous insecticide to the container.

Once every few hours the ball should be spun, which will attract insects - they like the black color. Gadflies, horseflies and other flies fly up to the object to study it. Having made sure that he is of no interest to them, they fly up, finding themselves imprisoned in the receiver.

In Europe, similar traps for horseflies and gadflies are produced in production

Prevention

1. Cleanliness of the place where animals are kept and walked is one of the keys to successful prevention of attacks by gadflies. It is necessary to promptly remove manure and change bedding, clean channels or dishes for washing. Some livestock breeders practice treating manure heaps with broad-spectrum insecticidal preparations.
2. Standing water should not be allowed near animals. If necessary, a good drainage system should be built to ensure the drainage of excess moisture. Buckets of water should be removed after animals drink. If there is a pond on the site, then during the period of active breeding of gadflies it should be covered with film.
3. Tall grass is one of the favorite habitats of horseflies and gadflies. On hot days, they hide in it from the scorching rays of the sun, finding in the shade of plants the moisture necessary for life and reproduction. Therefore, the grass, especially near livestock, needs to be constantly trimmed.
4. It is recommended to castrate animals in the winter season, because wounds after surgery are an easy way for gadfly larvae to enter the body.
5. Livestock should be inspected regularly, if necessary combining this with wool cleaning.

By following these simple tips, you can protect animals from gadfly larvae.

Help with a gadfly bite

If, during examination of the animal, bite marks are noticeable on its skin, then the affected area should be lubricated with Vaseline oil. It will reliably fill the hole made by the larva and the nearby pores. This will block the access of oxygen. When the larva dies, its body is removed from the wound with disinfected tweezers to prevent putrefactive processes. The area around the implantation of the larvae is treated with an antiseptic - this will help prevent inflammation due to infection.

The fight against horse flies can be of two types: protective and large-scale (destruction and reduction of the insect population). To protect against horse flies, people wear clothes made from thick fabric, covering the entire body, and a hat with a protective mesh, which is not very convenient in the hot season.

Various sprays, creams, aerosols and gels are also used to repel insects.

A more radical method of combating horseflies is to use large-scale means and techniques. Horseflies are survived from the area by creating conditions for them in which they cannot survive: swamps are dried out, small bodies of water are disposed of, and the banks of large bodies of water are cleared of vegetation. This significantly reduces the places where the pest can live and reproduce. Modern chemicals, various traps and traditional methods are also used.

Chemicals

The modern market for combating harmful insects offers various chemical preparations for the destruction of horse flies. In order for the fight against insects to be successful throughout the entire period, it is recommended to use new drugs each time. This will prevent the pest from becoming accustomed to the chemical. Let's consider the most effective means:

• organophosphates: tetrachlorvinphos, dichlorvos, umaphos and malathion;
• pyrethroids: fenvalerate, S-bioallethrin, cypermethrin, sumithrin, permethrin, tetramethrin, resmethrin;
• organochlorine chemicals: methoxychlor, lindane.

These drugs can be used to treat both pets and various areas.

If animals require treatment, be sure to find out whether these chemicals are safe for them.

Then, using a sprayer or sponge, apply the required amount of product to the animal's fur.

When treating premises and areas, make sure that the poison does not get into drinking water or animal feed. When working with chemicals, do not forget about safety precautions. Be sure to wear protective gloves to prevent the chemical from coming into contact with your skin.

Traps

Ready

In a specialized store you can purchase the following types, which are excellent at luring horse flies:

• Trap for large insects. This is a fairly large structure, which is designed specifically for large insects. Approaching the trap, the insect ends up in a metal compartment, from which it then cannot escape.
• Flycatcher paper. This is a special tape for catching flies and other insects, which is coated with a sticky astringent glue that binds the insect.
• Light trap. The main operating principle of this structure is light, which attracts horseflies. Then the insect can either stick to the trap or die from an electrical discharge.
• Trap package. In such a bag they put food for horse flies, which get inside and after that can no longer get out.

Homemade

You can make a trap for horseflies yourself. All you need to do is show a little skill. Let's talk about the two simplest and efficient designs.

Ball and chair

In a place where there are especially many horse flies, hang a stool or chair on the ceiling or on a tree. Tie a ball or ball of a dark color with a rope to a chair so that it dangles freely under it. Wrap the sides and bottom of the chair with adhesive tape. Every few hours you will have to go to the trap and spin the ball. Horseflies are very attracted to a moving dark spot. But when they fly to it and realize that there is nothing interesting here, they will immediately begin to rise upward, where the sticky tape awaits them.

Bell

Based on the principle of the previous structure, it is possible to make another, more voluminous structure, which is called the “Bell”.

This cunning trap is made taking into account two main features of horse flies: their craving for heat and vertical take-off.

The luring object here is also a ball, but for this design we take a black rubber ball so that it heats up well and keeps warm.

Above the ball, instead of a chair, we use a large cone-shaped structure into which insects fly. Then they fly upward, where they end up in a jar or plastic bottle, from which it is impossible to get out.

To build this structure you will need the following:

1. a gymnastic ball with a diameter of at least 45 cm;
2. black nitro enamel - half a jar;
3. gymnastic hoop with a diameter of at least 90 cm;
4. reinforced polyethylene measuring 3 by 1 m;
5. slats: 6 pcs. – 1 meter, 3 pcs. – 1.5 meters;
6. screws, a piece of plastic pipe, rope;
7. 2 water bottles - 5- and 2-liter.

We make the frame of the cone from a hoop and 6-meter slats, securing them to the hoop with screws. We fasten the top of the cone with a piece of plastic pipe. Inserted into the pipe plastic bottle with a cut bottom and neck. Then the structure is covered with film, securing it with a stapler. A rail is attached inside the cone, almost at the very top, for hanging the ball. Then the “legs” of the trap are fixed - slats 1.5 meters long. The opening from the ground to the beginning of the cone should be 1 meter.

We put a 5-liter bottle on the top of the structure so that there is a plastic pipe and another bottle inside it. You can first make small holes in a 5-liter bottle so that caught insects do not rot inside it. And at the very end we hang a gymnastic ball painted black. In this case, only the top of the ball should be inside the cone, and the rest of it should be outside.

Traditional methods

• Liquid soap. Dilute a glass of regular liquid soap in 4.5 liters of water. Spray the horseflies with this mixture. After a while they will all die.
• Mint and lemon. Make a mixture of lemon soap, peppermint mouthwash, and lemon ammonia. Spray the entire area with this solution.