Biting flies that attack udders?

[Simkie]

This is a new one for me–another Connecticut special?

I’ve been seeing biting flies (deer fly size or so?) that LOVE to really go after the udder area, particularly on two specific horses in my little herd. I’ve been managing with daily fly spray and swat, and that’s been moderately successful, but it’s not 100%. Seven and Dove both have some swelling and scabbing The flies are fast so I’ve not gotten a really good LOOK at them, but they bite and hang on and leave blood dripping when they go.

Does this type of bug ring bells for anyone, and is there anything else I can be doing for this specific evil creature? I really never saw anything like this in CO or MN!

[Snowdenfarm]

Following, as I think I have the same issue. They seem to love the whole groin area, including the upper inside of the hind legs. I have never actually seen one, though. I find Swat, or even Vick’s vaporub pretty much eliminate the bites, but both are so messy.

[Jealoushe]

Fly sheets, and turn them in when the bugs are the worst (dawn).

[ryansgirl]

Flys Off. Same as SWAT just cheaper. Apply daily and thoroughly cover the area. Not sure how much you are applying?? I probably go through a jar a week on my mare (I have at least 15 jars ready to go). I cover from the udders along the belly line all the way to between the front legs. Never had a problem when I apply it like this.

Huge NO to fly sheets if deer flies, horse flies or anything of the like are out. Bugs WILL get trapped and horses just lose their minds and rather get hurt than deal with a trapped bug biting them (ask me how I know…). Shelter is your best option for those bugs.

​​​​​​Generic desitin also works well but it tends to run quite a bit when it’s super hot out (& makes a mess of their tails so you need to use something like Dawn to wash it out on a regular basis).

[mroades]

CT has flies that come straight from the mouth of hell…

[ActNatural]

I’ve been using belly balm on my mare daily. I used to use desitin but it’s gets really gross when it’s hot. Swat seems to break my mare out on her sensitive skin. The belly balm soothes the sores, leaves a protective layer, and smells like fly repellent so hopefully keeps the biters away.

[TwoTrickPony]

I’m on the west coast, but one of my mares in particular is getting bitten by something. Her whole midline is just bald with what looks like bites and sores. Her mom has the same issue, but not quite as bad. Recently I’ve seen some around her face, too.

I don’t know what is is, but I hit the Dollar Tree and got lots of baby butt cream, antibiotic cream, vaseline, coconut oil, and whatever else looked good. I mix it in a container with some fly concentrate. (I ran out of Swat–this was cheaper.) This seems the best thing. Every day I groom off the scabs, clean it, and coat it with gunk.

I’m making progress. The older mare cleared up quickly with this. She’s taking a bit longer.

[Snowdenfarm]

I think we might be talking about two different flies. At least for me there are two different issues. The colicoides are the tiny gnats that bite the midline and cause the rash-like sores. There is another fly, perhaps a regular old horse fly, that causes a single huge round welt at each bite in the groin area. I am only guessing, but my interpretation is that Simkie is talking about the latter.

[Simkie]

Yeah, I’m not talking about the gnats/noseeums. We have those, too, but that’s under control with swat.

These are some sort of biting fly, deer fly size or smaller, that seem to really love the groin. The very few times I’ve gotten a glimpse, they bite hard and hang on and when you swat them away, they leave blood dripping. They leave a large swelling with a scab from the bite.

A fly sheet really isn’t going to do it since it doesn’t cover the udder…and while I’ve never had a fly get stuck under the sheet, I can totally see it happening here These flies seems worst in the afternoon. Horses are on day turnout and in at night–a bear killed a donkey a few towns away, and I have one in my woods (as seen on the trail cam.) Not comfortable with them out at night right now.

@mroades ticks AND evil biting flies?? :no: Why do people LIVE here?

@ryansgirl good to know about the cheaper swat type stuff. Thanks!

@ActNatural what is belly balm? Bag balm? Or something different?

[SLW]

In my last Smartpak order they included a sample of Ecovet fly spray. I used it and was very impressed with the protection it provided from flies. It works a bit differently than regular fly sprays and might provide relief for your mares.

Do not use Bronco Gold fly spray. It gave my donkey chemical burns on her legs and put welts on a mare of mine. One daughter googled the product after seeing the donkeys legs and Bronco Gold has a long history of causing reactions on horses. When I contacted Farnam they said it wasn’t labeled to be used on donkeys. Hummm.

[ActNatural]

The belly balm is made by tail tamers/professional choice. It’s good stuff!

[kupeski]

Fellow New Englander here! My poor gelding tends to come in with blood on his legs- from getting bit all over his sheath. He lives outside with a herd currently, so a fly sheet will last all of 30 seconds out there. I like using Lavender Witch Hazel to clean the area (doesn’t sting, and is soothing, plus lavender has some bug repellent effects). I use Bugpellent gel slathered all around between his legs. The days I can’t make it to the barn he definitely comes in worse for the wear the next day without it.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@SLW

In my last Smartpak order they included a sample of Ecovet fly spray.

I saw this at Tractor Supply and wondered about it. I might have to give it a shot.

[Simkie]

@kupeski

I use Bugpellent gel slathered all around between his legs. The days I can’t make it to the barn he definitely comes in worse for the wear the next day without it.

Haven’t heard of this one!! Tell us alllll about it! Does it melt like swat or others?

I used the Ecovet the year it came out and wasn’t impressed There’s also nothing on their site or label about BITING flies. I think they have different “radar” so really unsure if something that works in that manner for filth flies would work on tabanids.

Thankfully, these monsters seem to be going away as the temps go up. Anyone else seeing the same thing?

[kupeski]

It’s more like a lotion you just rub on. It also comes as a fly spray and as a hanging bug odor stick.
I started using it last year and now always keep some in stock. It’s not greasy or goopy, and doesn’t melt like Swat does. Super easy to rub into the skin, and I like to leave a thin layer on top as an extra defense.

https://www.jefferspet.com/products/bugpellent

[gumtree]

You might be just north enough to be dealing with Black flies, not house flies. Small, tiny bastards. like no-see-ums. But IMO and experiance worse. I avoid backpacking, hiking in Me, NH from med,late May until the end of June. Can be and is torturous to be in the woods, on a river during the “Black Fly” season. I know first hand.

Unlike deer flies, most other biting insects. Black flies go out of their way to craw up and into close quarters to do their work. Craw under you closes. Their favorite place to go after is the back of one’s ears. By the hundreds. They can get so thick around someone there appears to be a “dark haze” over/around their body. Moose will go into a pond and just let the tip of their nose be exposed out of the water to breath.

The best stuff for all these biting insect has to have Deet in it. I’ve tried all of the “holistic” concoctions none work that well. The best stuff for humans and no reason it would’t work on a horse’s sensitive areas is called “Ben’s”. The stuff works amazingly well. Been around for years and swear by the stuff. Never had to use it on a horse.

What has also worked for me when I have run into late season black flies on a trial was to also coat the back of my ears and neck with Vaseline. A bit on the thick side of things. They don’t like to land on it and if they do they get stuck and can’t bite.

I’ve been caught in the back country misjudging the end or beginning of Black Fly season. I have never forgotten it. lol. TORTURE

[atr]

Sometimes, I miss the trees and green bucolic landscape of the eastern US. Then I read something like this and realize that living in the high desert has it’s advantages… even if it is snowing today.

(And it’s going to freeze tonight and kill any of the little beasts that have mistakenly attempted to make a home up here :))

[Ambitious_Kate]

I know the flies these girls are talking about. They look like house flies, but they are smaller and…leaner…Maybe with a thin white stripe on the body. They bite and bite hard, come out in the afternoons, come into the barn, and are relentless. They are a nasty nasty bite. As bad or worse of a bite than a deer fly. They are NOT horseflies. They are NOT gnats or noseeums. The ecovet and the Bub Pellent both look promising to try.

[fjordmom]

I’ve had decent luck with Ecovet on deer flies. I’m not sure exactly what you are fighting, but having grown up in New England, I’ll guess they are black flies or maybe green heads, if you are coastal. Horribly nasty painful biters, both of them. I’m now in northern Michigan and have one pony who has sweet itch, so have to keep him protected from everything that bites. The culicoides are the main cause but when any fly bite fires up his immune system, the itch kicks into over-drive.

I’ve used zinc oxide all around his sheath and inside of his legs with good sucess, especially if the flies beat me to the punch. Be sure to get the 100%. Many of the diaper rash lotions now include lanolin and they melt quickly. The pure 100% zinc oxide stays much thicker and protective for several days. Not really all that messy if kept to the nether regions. I keep baby wipes on hand to easily clean up my hands.

Just this week I have started using this belly guard (http://www.chicksaddlery.com/page/CDS/PROD/BG8043) to protect areas that his fly sheet doesn’t cover. It has a cup that protects the sheath or udder. So far so good. It was a comedy show to get it on the first time, even with the saint of a pony standing quietly. Once I got it figured out, it was much easier today. (Maybe have an extra pair of hands to help the first time.) There are several straps, some criss-cross and you feel you’re in a great tangle until you get it all properly adjusted. Then all is good.

Good luck. Those d*** flies seem to be a never ending summer battle.

[mroades]

They breed in running water so there is no way to control them, Yes on the Deet. When I was teaching in Ct I used Raid…no joke.