Pests are annoying and irritating creatures that can infest an area. They can cause damage to property and the people living in there. They can also attack other animals that are present in the area. One of the pests that commonly attack other animals is a horsefly.
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What is a Horsefly?
Horsefly is a blood-sucking insect and attacks horses most of the time; hence, the name “horsefly.” They are commonly found in suburban and rural areas in the United States and North America near bodies of water because they are also attracted to water. They are also attracted to lights, and you will often find them in groups on a window. These fast and strong creatures can be identified with their gray or blackish-striped stout-shaped bodies with antennae, large green or purple eyes, and six legs.
Do Horsefly Bites?
Yes, horseflies bite but only the female ones. Just like mosquitoes, female horseflies bite to suck blood in order to provide protein to their offspring. These females will bite and bite until they succeed in sucking blood or they have been killed. On the other hand, male horseflies do not bite because they do not need to suck blood. Instead, they feed on nectar. Additionally, just like mosquitos bite other animals, horseflies also bite other animals. If mosquitoes can bite pets like dogs and cats, horseflies bite horses, and their bite can be painful for both humans and horses. Their bites hurt because they have sharp cutting mouthparts that are intended to deeply cut the skin to get the blood. Luckily, their bites are not harmful to humans, but it is harmful to horses. They carry infectious anemia that can cause swap fever in horses. Although not deadly and fatal enough, those that have been bitten can be a carrier of the disease and infect other animals.
What to Do for Horsefly Bites?
Red rash, wheezing, lethargy, dizziness, and swelling can be an indication of a horsefly bite. If you suspect that you or your horse have a horsefly bite, you can do the following to treat the bite.
- Clean the bite with soap and water only. Home remedies cleaning agents may not help, so do not use this.
- Apply a cold compress to the bite area for 10 minutes.
- Raise the part where the bite is to ease the swelling further.
- Do not scratch the bite as this can lead to blister and other infections.
- Drink over-the-counter medicines to reduce the pain.
- If itching persists, consult a doctor.
Prevention
We can also take precautionary measure to avoid getting bitten by horseflies. Below are preventive measures for both humans and horses to avoid horsefly bites.
Humans
- Wear light-colored clothing. Horseflies are attracted to dark moving objects. Therefore, wear light-colored clothing to avoid getting bitten by a horsefly.
- Wear insect repellant. Just like any other pests, there is a horsefly repellent to repel them from getting near you.
Horses
- Fly repellent. Use an animal-safe horsefly repellent because common repellents can cause irritation and allergic reactions in your horses. You have the option to use sprays, wipes, or creams of horsefly repellent that you can spread onto your horses’ face and neck.
- Physical barriers. Buy a fly rug, neck cover, and fly mask to prevent horseflies from having contact with your horses.
- Protect stables. Consider also spraying horsefly repellent on your horses’ stable to add protection. You can also place traps like indoor mosquito trap to help
Nonetheless, you can always hire a professional pest control in Arlington to ensure maximum protection from pests like horseflies. Doing so will ensure that you will get to the root cause of the infestation and will prevent it from happening again in the future.
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