To effectively eliminate horse flies, it's essential to understand what draws them in and what keeps them away, as well as their daily behaviors.
Similar to keeping flies out of your home or managing mosquitoes, you can make your outdoor areas less appealing to these pests.
Horse flies are not just irritating; their bites can cause intense pain due to their sharp mouthparts that slice through skin.
Effective Strategies to Get Rid of Horse Flies
Here are five methods to help you repel horse flies, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor spaces without the annoyance of bites.
1. Understand Their Attractants
To combat horse flies, it's beneficial to know what they are attracted to. According to pest control expert Scot Hodges, horse flies are drawn to motion, carbon dioxide, heat, shiny objects, and dark colors.
It's also important to be aware of their activity patterns throughout the day. They tend to be more aggressive in daylight and prefer sunny areas, so spending time in shaded spots or enjoying your backyard during the evening may help reduce encounters.
They often breed in wet locations, such as areas with foliage near water, so trimming trees or bushes near pools can help prevent them from reproducing on your property.
With over 24 years in the pest control industry, Scot Hodges has held various roles from sales to management. He currently serves as the Director of Professional Development at Arrow Exterminators and is an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) through the Entomological Society of America.
2. Create Your Own Trap
Logan Cox from John The Plumber suggests that homemade remedies, like a simple trap, can effectively deal with horse flies.
To make a trap, fill a dark-colored bucket with water mixed with a sweet substance like molasses or sugar. Place this trap in areas where horse flies are a nuisance, and they will be attracted to the mixture and become trapped in the water.
3. Use Essential Oils as Deterrents
Another option is to make a homemade spray to repel horse flies by mixing essential oils with water in a spray bottle. Dan Bailey from WikiLawn notes that oils such as eucalyptus and peppermint are known for their insect-repelling qualities. Geranium oil and vinegar can also be effective, as can citronella, which additionally helps keep wasps away.
This spray can be applied to your skin or clothing, but be sure to reapply it regularly for best results.
4. Consider Store-Bought Solutions
If you prefer commercial options, you can find various products designed to manage horse flies at local garden supply stores.
According to Logan Cox, traps and sticky strips use visual and scent cues to successfully attract and capture flies. You may also find insecticide sprays specifically formulated for horse flies. Always follow the product instructions carefully and consult a professional if you have any concerns.
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This trap can be placed on indoor and outdoor surfaces or hung from a hook, providing instant bug elimination. It has received positive reviews on Amazon.
5. Keep Horse Flies Away from Your Pool
Horse flies are particularly attracted to pools because of the shiny water surface, combined with movement, sunlight, and heat, according to Scot Hodges. Unfortunately, keeping these pests at bay can feel like an ongoing struggle.
To lessen their presence, ensure that areas around your property are well-drained, as horse flies prefer to lay their eggs in shallow water. However, they may also breed in nearby areas, and as Scot Hodges explains, their life cycle is longer than that of house flies, with larvae potentially lasting from months to a year, making it tricky to identify breeding sites.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common error is to randomly spray insecticides around your property. Zachary Smith, founder of The Pest Dude, advises against this approach, as it can harm beneficial insects as well.
Your best strategy is to install fly screens available on Amazon around the pool, apply insect repellent consistently, wear long sleeves, and don't hesitate to use a fly swatter if needed.
How Painful Are Horse Fly Bites?
The pain from horse fly bites is due to their sharp mouthparts, which cut into the skin, causing bleeding as they feed on blood, explains Scot Hodges, a pest control expert.
Unlike mosquitoes and some other biting insects that inject an anesthetic into the skin to numb the area, horse flies do not provide this relief, so you feel the full impact of their bite.
What Scents Repel Horse Flies?
Horse flies tend to dislike the scents of citronella, vinegar, eucalyptus, geranium, and peppermint.
To further deter them, positioning fans around outdoor seating areas or pools can create a consistent airflow, keeping things cooler and discouraging horse flies, as they are not strong fliers.
