How to get rid of buffalo flies

Buffalo flies are a common nuisance for horses and cattle. The female gadfly lands on livestock, making painful cuts in the skin to suck blood. ^{[1] X Research Source} Unfortunately, buffalo flies are notoriously difficult to control, however, you still have several options for getting rid of them, including trapping, chemicals, and home remedies. .

Table of Contents

Use traps according to the principle of physics to catch buffalo flies

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a5/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a5/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Buy a fly trap. Non-toxic physics-based traps are most effective when used in areas where livestock, people or important crops are present. Here are some types of traps that are effective in catching buffalo flies:

The light on these traps has a special effect on attracting annoying insects. When the insects land on the lamp, they will be attached to the glued cardboard or be killed on the spot.
Flytrap paper.”. This paper has an adhesive to attract and catch house flies as well as buffalo flies.
Fly trap with bait.” This type of trap holds food in a plastic bag as bait.Flies will enter the bag through a funnel and they will not be able to get out once inside the bag.
Buffalo fly trap.” These large traps are specially designed to attract mainly visual predators such as buffalo flies and deer flies. are not prey, they will get caught in the metal part of the trap and die from the heat of the sun.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/cc/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-2-Version-3.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-2-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/cc/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-2-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-2-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Make your own trap.

Hang a recliner or stool from the ceiling of a shed or other places where the flies congregate.
Tie a medium-sized dark ball to a string, then tie the string to the bottom of the chair so that the ball hangs below.
Attach the fly paper to the bottom of the chair, and every few hours push the ball to swing. Buffalo flies are often attracted to dark colors and movement, so they will fly to the ball.
When the flies come in and realize it’s unattractive, they’ll fly up high and stick to the flypaper.

Chemically remove buffalo flies

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/73/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/73/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Choose a chemical. Many chemicals are equally effective. To prevent insects from developing resistance, you should alternate the use of different chemicals when treating fly-infested areas. Options include:

The pyrethroid group (cypermethrin, fenvalerate, permethrin, resmethrin, tetramethrin, s-bioallethrin, sumithrin);
Organophosphate group (coumaphos, dichlorvos, malathion, tetrachlorvinphos)
Organochlorines (lindane, methoxychlor)

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e8/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e8/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Direct handling on livestock. Always double-check the chemical you intend to use to ensure it is safe for your pets, and:

Use a spray bottle or hand-held sprayer to spray chemicals on pets.
If the animals squirm when sprayed, you can use a sponge or glove dipped in the chemical and rub it on them.
Always wear rubber gloves . Never let chemicals come into direct contact with your skin.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/18/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/18/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Spray insecticide around the property. Spray in rest areas or barns around the canopies, walls, ceilings and beams.

Remove livestock from the barn before spraying. Some pets must be outside for a while. Remember to use the medicine according to the instructions on the package.
Spray medication on rest areas. Remember to keep the sprayer at low pressure.
Take care not to contaminate the water and feed troughs of livestock. Also, don’t let your farm tools get contaminated with pesticides.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d5/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-6-Version-3.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-6-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d5/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-6-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-6-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Large-scale spraying to protect multiple areas. Spraying on a large area is an effective method that does not require much time and effort. However, the sprayed area is usually only effective for a short time.

Use an airplane, hydraulic sprayer or aerosol to spray chemicals.
Small drops of chemical will fall on the place where the flies congregate and kill them.

Unproven home remedies

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/48/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-7-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-7-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/48/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-7-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-7-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Mix a cup of dishwashing liquid with 4 liters of water and spray it on the flies. The soapy water will suffocate flies without harming plants and animals.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/8a/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-8-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/8a/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-8-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Mix 5 cups of water, 1 cup of lemon-flavored dishwashing liquid, 1 cup of lemon-flavored ammonia solution, and one cup of mint-flavored mouthwash. Mix in a 4 liter jar. Pour into a garden sprayer and spray on grass and bushes. This solution is harmless to plants but can repel buffalo flies as well as other insects. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Preventing buffalo flies and taking care of pets

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b2/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-9-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b2/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-9-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Keep the breeding area clean. Clean up pet faeces, old bedding, and food spills. If needed, you can spray insecticide on the compost pile to prevent larvae from developing.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/fe/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-10-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-10-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/fe/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-10-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-10-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Remove standing water near livestock areas. Build proper drainage and clean up puddles of standing water. Cover ponds during peak fly fly season.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/ab/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-11-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/ab/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-11-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Trim tall grasses and weeds. Buffalo flies can find a suitable, moist and cool breeding environment in the weeds and tall grass. Insects often hide in wooded areas during the hottest times. To avoid this, you should regularly trim the grass, especially along the ditches.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/83/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-12-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/83/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-12-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Set aside a shaded and sheltered area for pets and pets. Livestock barns, hay sheds or dog kennels are places where animals can hide when disturbed by flies outdoors. Be sure to install nets on windows and doors to prevent flies from entering.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/20/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-13-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-13-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/20/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-13-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-13-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Have pets wear ear nets, face shields or insect repellent patches.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6e/Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-14-Version-3.jpg/v4-460px-Get- Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-14-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6e/Get-Rid-of-Horse- Flies-Step-14-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Horse-Flies-Step-14-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Conduct annual procedures (eg, neutering pets) in the winter. During this time, buffalo flies are least likely to appear; so you will avoid flies getting into the pet’s wound.

Advice

Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats when working in an area with buffalo flies. You can attach cloth tape to your hat to catch flies flying around your head.
Experts have conflicting opinions on the effectiveness of chemicals to control buffalo flies. Pesticides sprayed on animals may not be effective because the flies are not exposed to the chemical long enough for the insecticide to work. Some sprays containing DEET are slightly more effective, but DEET melts the plastic and can be uncomfortable to use.
Carry a fly catching racket with you.

Warning

If flies come, stay still. Actions like swatting, swatting, and running away will only attract more flies.
Buffalo flies are not non-biting people. They bite people and animals just as often as mosquitoes do. Buffalo flies appear quite a lot in the summer months, attacking many groups of people, especially on beaches in the US and other countries. They will bite anything that moves and give off carbon dioxide because they know there’s a source of blood there. If bitten by a buffalo fly, simply wash the wound with soap and water. Dip a cotton ball in alcohol and apply it to the wound. Pay attention to the bump to prevent it from worsening due to an allergy or infection.

Things you need

Lamp Trap
Flies sticky paper
Trap flies with bait
Buffalo fly trap
Dark colored recliner or stool
Rope
Ball
Chemistry
Spray bottle or hand-held sprayer
Airplane, hydraulic sprayer or sprayer
Grass storage or barn
Ear mesh
Face mask
Sticky tape to repel flies

Steps