Are flys/bugs worse this year?

[CindyCRNA]

I am trying night turn out for my guy and it’s been awful. We are in the midwest and had a ton of rain this spring. My guy goes out in a high neck fly sheet, a fly mask, fly boots and fly spray and still comes in with welts . 2 days ago we had to bring him after 2 hours as he had a cloud of bugs all over him. He is in solo turn out and by far has the worse bug bites. No one else is dressed yet they are flocking to him

Just ordered some Ecovet on the advice of someone at the barn and may see if day turnout may be better but it’s just been God awful this year!

[rubygirl1968]

It seems to be here in western NC. Its also been as hot as July weather for the past couple of months.

The gnats form a cloud around them. Its too humid for fly sheets so there are fans in their paddocks and they’re in the pasture at night. Fly leggings, spray and copious amounts of swat.

I’m sure they’ll be glad for fall.

[CindyCRNA]

I smeared swat on his upper neck where the fly sheet will come down a bit and they bit thru the swat!

[vxf111]

I feel like the flies haven’t been as bad this year in NJ but the gnats are 200 percent worse!

[Calvincrowe]

Record rainfall for the months of April, May and June here in the Portland Metro/SW WA area equals hordes of mosquitoes and gnats. The horses are miserable! Not as many flies now, but turnout time is a hellscape for the sensitive ones… and the humans who have to care for them. I live with a can of Off! close to hand because you can’t even mow or work in the yard/barn without being bitten up. And yes, I sprayed my old man with Off! because nothing else is working vs. mosquitoes right now.

[CindyCRNA]

Did the Off work?

[Calvincrowe]

Yes! The Off works great. Aerosol cans scare one of my horses so he won’t tolerate it but my boy lets me spritz his body and belly. I spray my hand to do his face.

[erinmeri]

@vxf111

I feel like the flies haven’t been as bad this year in NJ but the gnats are 200 percent worse!

Not sure where you are in NJ, but I feel like the green heads have been worse this year for the last month or so in Hunterdon County.

[Incantation]

We didn’t have the spring knats here, but the horseflies came out early and with a fury. I bought some bug balls that use tanglefoot, and they catch a bunch for a day or two, then the tanglefoot either melts off, or get a layer of dust so it stops catching them.
The past week we now have added greenheads, deer flies and stable flies. My sensitive OTTB is going crazy!

[trubandloki]

I think every year has some bug that seems so much worse than they have been. Changing every year depending on the weather. So I think it is just a cycle thing depending on what the weather is doing that particular year.
I am with @erinmeri this year. Green heads have been evil and plentiful.

[vxf111]

Burlington County, I’m South of you.

[Amy3996]

They’re awful here in upstate NY. Gnats, greenheads, black flies, all of them. We’ve given up on trail riding around the farm until fall because the horses just get swarmed.

[candyappy]

They are always awful. I think they are out earlier and it is so unseasonably hot , humid and horrible out that they seem worse.

The whole month of June has been in the 90’s. Just gets everything going.

[Xanthoria]

Try Repel or Cutter brand lemon eucalyptus mosquito repellant. It also works on culicoides midges as well as DEET according to a study I read, and I’ve found it really effective against ticks too.

Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent Pump Spray, DEET-free Mosquito Repellent, 4oz https://a.co/d/9ahqtL5

[vxf111]

I think it’s true that every year feels worse than the prior. Bad things always seem worse while you’re experiencing them and the past always gets rose colored glasses with time. That might just be human nature!

[PamnReba]

My part of Texas is in a severe drought, but one positive coming from that is a total lack of any kind of flying and biting insects! For most of June we under a high pressure system and so very low humidity, with temps above 100 every day. So far July is a bit more humid and I saw a couple of flies this morning, but the horses tails were pretty still so not bothering them too much. It is probably the only good thing - well that, and no mud - to be a side effect of a drought.