How does the horsefly trap work?
Horseflies can really form a plague during the months July and August. They can’t seem to keep away from your horse. That is why the fly trap can’t be missed in the pasture. Did you know that a fly trap not only tackles the horsefly problem in the pasture but also the long term problem?
What is a horse fly and why do they bite horses?
Only the female horsefly bites, because she needs the protein of the blood to produce her eggs. The male horsefly only eats nectar and is therefore not really a problem to horses. Female horseflies find the horses based on heat, movemen and scent, such as sweat. Her favourite victims are larger mammals, such as horses and cows. Research shows that horseflies actually prefer dark colours. After the female horsefly has the blood to ripe her eggs, she puts the eggs in (moist) meadows. These eggs then develop into larvae and when the weather is hot, the larvae turns into horseflies. A horsefly usually lives up to six weeks.
How does the fly trap work?
The fly trap is designed based of the instinct of the horsefly. The female horsefly will see the big black ball and look at it as a perfect victim. After all, she finds her victims based on heat and dark colours, and the black ball heating up in the sun perfectly fits those criteria. Once the horsefly lands on the ball, it will crawl over it, become disappointed and attempt to fly away. But because horseflies can only fly upwards, they fly into the trap within the reservoir and from there it just can't get out anymore.
A fly trap will work at its best when it is placed on an open spot with lots of sun, so it can heat up nicely. It should also be placed near the pasture of the horses (but they shouldn’t be able to touch it) in a windless place.
What are the advantages of a fly trap?
The fly trap is the most effective, sustainable and practical way to get rid of horseflies. It's easy to clean without the use of chemical products and 100% environmentally friendly. Because the fly trap only catches the female horseflies (since male horseflies go for nectar instead of blood), the horse fly problem will be better managed in the bigger picture.Eventually, there will only be male horseflies left, meaning that no reproduction can take place and less new larvae and horseflies can develop. The fly trap will be functional for years and will decrease the presence of horseflies with 95% in the direct environment. The
Epplejeck fly trap has a reach of 10.000 m2 and the
Taon X-eco is a smaller model with a reach of 5.000 m2