FLYING INSECT ID

In the battle against bugs, it can help to know a little about the pests you’re dealing with—where they like to congregate and multiply, their method of attack and any quirky habits they may have. Here’s a quick look at the flying insects most likely to pester your horse.

Black flies inflict painful bites, usually on sparsely haired areas, such as the ears and genitals. Although they can be found as far south as Florida, black flies are notorious pests up north. They are most abundant in forested areas with slow-moving waterways, such as streams, lakes or canals, in which they lay their eggs. They feed primarily on bright, sunny days and tend to avoid dark enclosures.

Culicoides (biting midges, biting gnats, no-see-ums) attack different parts of the horse, depending on the species, but the more common ones bite at the tailhead, ears, mane, withers and rump; others go for the belly. These tiny flies form swarms that inflict many bites at once.

They breed in marshes or slow streams, and are most active just after sunset.

Face flies do not bite, but they congregate on the face to feed on saliva, tears and mucus. Face flies prefer cattle and breed only in cow manure, but they will also land on horses living within a quarter mile. They are most active in the spring and summer but not in hot, dry weather.

Horseflies and deer flies inflict painful bites that bleed. Deer flies tend to attack the head and neck. Smaller horseflies bite on the legs, and the

larger ones—they can be up to an inch long—feed on the horse’s back. These types of flies lay their eggs in moist soil or vegetation near ponds, marshes and other bodies of water and are most commonly found in or within a few miles of forests or wetlands. However, some travel as far as 30 miles in search of blood meals. Horsefly and deer fly species prefer bright sunlight on hot, still days.

Houseflies do not bite, but they congregate near open wounds and secretions, such as tears or mucus. They breed in moist, decaying vegetable matter, including garbage, hay and grass clippings as well as manure. Houseflies prefer dark, interior spaces.

Mosquitoes will bite anywhere on the body. Most abundant in warm, wet weather, mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, and their populations spike near marshes, ponds and any chronically wet ground, especially after flooding. Smaller puddles, such as those that occur in abandoned tires or blocked rain gutters, can also serve as breeding reservoirs. Mosquitoes are most active in low-light conditions, such as in shady woods or at dawn or dusk.

Stable flies look like houseflies, but they inflict painful bites, most often on a horse’s legs but also on the belly, face and neck. They can be found around livestock practically anywhere in the country, but they are especially numerous in warmer climates, especially during hotter, wetter weather. Stable flies prefer bright, sunny areas and tend to avoid dark enclosures.