How to get rid of gadfly with chemicals, traps and folk remedies

Gadgets are insects that are dangerous primarily for farm animals. But some species pose a threat to humans. In addition, their obsessive buzzing annoys a person, and individuals themselves can become a carrier of infections. How to get rid of gadfly?

What is this insect?

Gadfly is the collective name of insects from the order of dipterans, most of which parasitize in the body of warm-blooded animals. Unlike horseflies, which are also often annoying in the summer, they do not drink blood, although they do much more damage: they need the body of livestock to grow their larvae. As a result, the animal’s health is at great risk: it can become sick with a false twirl and pneumonia, often leading to death.

Biologists distinguish three large groups of gadflies:

1. Gastric. These flies lay their eggs on the animal's face as close to the mouth as possible so that they eventually end up in the gastrointestinal tract. Penetration into the digestive system occurs during the intake of food, drink or a simple lick. The most common representative of gastric parasites from the diptera squad is horse gadfly.
2. Cavity. They have an incomplete transformation cycle, that is, the pupal phase is absent in the stages of development of this insect. These gadflies primarily include the sheep gadfly. The vital activity of the larvae takes place in the body of the animal.
3. Dermal. For example, this is a bullish gadfly. The female lays eggs on the wool of livestock, and then the larvae penetrate the skin, where it develops to the pupa. For an animal, the parasite brings a lot of inconvenience - pain and itching, and wounds are often inflamed and become a gateway for infections to enter the body.

Only one type of skin gadfly - Dermatobia hominis - attacks a person. There are many scary stories about his work. Indeed, sometimes larvae can penetrate the skin and even the eyes of people. But the human gadfly lives in Central America, so only travelers to exotic countries should be wary of Dermatobia hominis.

Unlike horseflies, gadflies rarely bite people, but cause great harm to livestock, although these insects are similar to each other and are often confused. So that the parasites do not cause damage, it is necessary to correctly and timely combat them.

Funds from gadgets "from the store"

Specialized remedies for gadfly do not exist, so livestock farmers usually use chemicals with a wide spectrum of action. For example, it could be:

1. Amidophos. The tool is an emulsion of oily consistency, insoluble in water. The percentage of active substance is 25%. Amidophos is effective against larvae that live in the skin of animals. Its use is to water the body on both sides of the spine. Amidophos reindeer are injected.This product can not be used for livestock, giving milk, because a toxic substance accumulates in the body. Slaughter of animals for meat is allowed no earlier than 30 days after processing.
2. Chlorophos. It is a white powder that dissolves well in water. The concentration of the active substance is from 65 to 97%. To combat the gadfly, an 8 percent solution is used. They are used, like amidovos, by watering the body of the animal. For one individual, 200 ml of the prepared preparation is sufficient. This procedure is usually carried out in early autumn. Hypodermine-chlorophos is used to destroy the subcutaneous gadfly.
3. "Antiflay." This is a yellow solution, the active substance of which is tsiflutrin. It fights with many insects annoying agricultural cattle, including gadflies and horseflies. It is forbidden to use for young calves and animals whose body weight does not exceed 300 kg. Contraindication is the presence of wounds and other injuries. After application to the skin, the substance is distributed over the surface of the body, in a small dosage into the skin. It has a long exposure.
4. Hexamide is available as a solution or paste. An emulsion is made of them having a subtle yellow tint.
5. Polychlorpinene is a dark liquid with a thick consistency. The concentration of the active substance that repels parasites is 65%. Also included is oil and an emulsifier. This drug is not suitable for dairy cows, and slaughter for meat is allowed a month after processing the animal. Effective against bloodsucking insects and scabies mites.

These funds can be purchased at stores selling agricultural products.

How to process?

When treating livestock with chemicals, you need to follow certain rules:

1. Before use, you need to read the instructions for the tool, paying attention to each item, and clearly follow the recommendations.
2. In the process, it is important to use gloves, and even better - wear a respirator. This will prevent toxic substances from entering the body through the respiratory system or through the skin.
3. For livestock processing, a manual sprayer is usually used. But some animals are afraid of this apparatus. In this case, their body is treated with a sponge dipped in a chemical.

Compliance with safety precautions will protect against the unpleasant consequences of working with toxic substances.

The means of protection against horseflies and gadflies for humans include universal sprays and aerosols that scare away large insects. For example, these are drugs from the companies Gardeks, Moskitol and others.

Traps

There are various traps for horseflies, gadflies and other large insects on sale. The most primitive design is adhesive tape. It can be hung in agricultural rooms or on door jambs. The disadvantages of this trap are its low efficiency and the need for continuous replacement of the tape with a new one. There are also light and mechanical models. The principle of their action is based on the lure of insects with their subsequent death. A special trap package for flies is also suitable.

Do it yourself

You can make a trap for gadfly on your own, with a little effort and time. Breeders recommend constructing a special frame in the form of a cone made of wire or thin strips with white fabric walls. A black ball is suspended in the center of the structure, and at the top make a hole that opens into the insect receiver from a plastic bottle.

Important! To enhance the effect, a sticky substance or a poisonous insecticide can be added to the container.

Every few hours, the ball should be untwisted, which will attract insects - they like the black color. Gadfly, horsefly and other flies fly up to the object to study it. After making sure that it is not of interest to them, they fly upward, being imprisoned in the receiver.

Another variation of the self-made trap of such an insect trap operates on the same principle, only differs in form and materials of use. The design looks like a black cow. This is a trap for “passive” work that does not need to be moved. It is sufficient to periodically clean the receiver.

Folk remedies in the fight against gadflies and horseflies

Some folk remedies have proven themselves in the prevention and control of gadfly. Most of them produce a deterrent effect. But it is important to consider that the effect of such drugs is very short, because the substances quickly disappear, and they need to be treated on premises or livestock on average every 5 days.

1. In the simplest cologne, at an affordable price, clove powder is bred (it can be crushed in a coffee grinder). Such a composition is insisted for 10 days.
2. A solution of liquid soap in 4.5 liters of water. They can handle animals without harm to their health.
3. The flies are scared away by the smell of mint, lemon ammonia or soap.

Do not rely solely on folk remedies. If the problem of cattle damage by gadfly is acute, then other, more effective means must be used to achieve the result.

Prevention

It is better not to allow the propagation of gadflies in your area than to deal with its consequences. To prevent insects from attacking farm animals, it is recommended to create conditions unfavorable for the life of the parasites:

1. The cleanliness of the place of keeping and walking animals is one of the keys to successful prevention of attacks of gadflies. It is necessary to remove manure and change the litter in a timely manner, to clean the channels or dishes for washing. Some livestock farmers practice the treatment of dung heaps with broad-acting insecticides.
2. No need to allow standing water in the vicinity of animals. If necessary, a good drainage system should be built to ensure the outflow of excess moisture. Buckets with water should be cleaned after drinking animals. If there is a pond on the site, then during the period of active propagation of gadflies, it should be covered with a film.
   
3. Tall grass is one of the favorite habitats of horseflies and gadflies. On hot days, they hide in it from the scorching rays of the sun, finding moisture in the shade of plants necessary for life and reproduction. Therefore, grass, especially in the vicinity of livestock, must be constantly trimmed.
4. It is recommended that animals be castrated in the winter season, because wounds after surgery are an easy way for gadfly larvae to enter the body.
5. Livestock should be inspected regularly, if necessary combining this with brushing.

Following these simple tips, you can protect animals from gadfly larvae.

Help with a bite of a gadfly

If during the examination of the animal traces of bites are visible on its skin, then the affected area should be lubricated with liquid paraffin. It will reliably fill the hole made by the larva and the nearby pores. This will block the access of oxygen. When the larva dies, its body is removed from the wound with disinfected tweezers to prevent putrefactive processes. The area around the introduction of the larvae is treated with an antiseptic - this will help prevent inflammation due to infection.

To effectively solve the problem, various methods of controlling gadfly should be combined. Following prevention guidelines will reduce the number of insects that infect animals. Knowing what to fear horseflies and gadflies and how to deal with them, you can avoid damage to the au pair.