Stable flies, deerflies, face flies, horseflies, horn flies, and are a menace to your alpaca's health and well-being. Stable flies are the most common. They are about the size of a house fly. While house flies feed on garbage, stable flies bite. 
As with house flies stable flies breed in decaying organic matter. Moist manure is a perfect medium. Stable fly life cycle is 21 to 25 days from egg to adult. A female can lay as many as 20 batches of eggs during her 30 day life. Each batch contains between 40-80 eggs. When the eggs hatch, the adults emerge ready to breed. The number of flies produced by one pair of adults and their offspring in thirty days is staggering.
The life cycle of the House Fly is only about 7 to 15 days depending on temperature. The female will breed a few hours after they pupate (4 to 7 days in warm weather) and begin to lay eggs in a few days. The eggs will hatch into larvae in 24 hours or less.
The clouds of small flies on manure are often mistaken for immature stable flies but in fact are a different type of fly which may play an important part in the decomposition of the manure.
Controlling the Fly Population
Proper manure management and moisture control
You can spread on a field that is not going to be used by your alpacas, llamas or goats during the current year. This should be harrowed in to break it up into a thin layer so it can dry out.
Composting the manure is another alternative. You should have 3 piles or as we do it one long row. We put fresh manure at the end of the row and remove from the beginning of the row to spread on pastures or sell to local gardeners. For the fastest composting you should turn you piles frequently and keep them well tamped to encourage the aerobic bacteria necessary for fermentation.
Prevent the larvae from hatching
We use fly Eliminators form Arbico-Organics.
Fly Eliminators are gnat-sized parasitic wasps that feed upon and breed within developing (pupal) stages of manure breeding flies, eliminating the adult pest fly.
The female Fly Eliminator seeks out her host and deposits her eggs inside fly pupae. These eggs begin to grow and feed on the developing fly, thus stopping the adult pest fly from hatching. Fly Parasites reproduce in 2 to 3 weeks, constantly reinforcing the beneficial insect population.
Pest flies reproduce at a faster rate than Fly Parasites; therefore, Fly Eliminators must be replenished on a regular basis. On our farm we do not quite follow the recommendations from the suppliers of fly predators. We start our release program about 30 days before the highest population of flies, about the middle of June. We also increase the amount we purchase to have a high concentration of predators. This along with our other methods of control keep us relativity free from flies.
Capture Adult Flies
Fly traps utilizes attractants to attract and capture flies. Some commercially available attractants contain a sex attractant. Some of the best attractant is dog feces, canned dog food or yeast with ammonium carbonate. For Other homemade attractant recipes click here
Cone Trap. Bait Pan is placed beneath the cone. Make sure the top edge of the bait pan is above the bottom edge of the trap. Top is also made of screening. Top should be hinged (to empty the trap) and closed with a hook and eye. Weather-stripping or a strip of foam or cloth glued to all four sides of the underside of the lid will prevent flies from squeezing out.
Trap placement is important:
- Place traps close to fly breeding sites with any prevailing breeze blowing from the trap toward the breeding area.
- Do not set traps near doorways or entrances to buildings.
- Place traps away from outdoor areas that are used for eating or recreation.
- Generally, traps are most effective when placed on the ground, but they can be hung over the openings of dumpsters and from buildings or fences as well.
- Place traps in sunlight. Flies are more active in sunlight, both outside and inside the trap.
- Keep trying new places sometime just moving a few feet will work.
Use of sprays
We use the auto-mist system in our barns and find that it reduces the biting flies and makes our animals more comfortable.
Livestock Facilities and Kennels
From a small dairy barn to a large commercial stable to a 6 run kennel -
Auto Mist Systems aid in creating a pleasant atmosphere for animals and owners.
Auto Mist is an automatic insect control system that is installed in areas where insects are a nuisance. The Auto Mist system helps to reduce insect transmitted disease, infections, contamination and animal stress. By using the Auto Mist system, more insects are killed per dollar spent.
We've crafted and tailored our systems throughout the years to provide our customers with a product that exceeds their needs. Quality components and installation techniques play a large part. Automist Systems work as simple as 1 - 2 - 3.
Automist Systems are so versatile they can be installed conveniently at the time of new construction, when additions are added or in already existing areas to effectively reduce insect populations - automatically.
Below are three popular areas of installation. Other areas of installation include, but are not limited too, zoos, swine facilities and poultry housing.
Horse Stable Installation
For the best control we recommend placing one (1) spray nozzle assembly in the center of each 10' x 10' to 12' x 12' stall and one (1) spray nozzle assembly near each aisleway door.
Nozzle assemblies are not needed in feed areas, wash areas or tack rooms - excellent control is accomplished by installing nozzle assemblies in areas that house horses only.
Nozzle assemblies down the aisleway area are not needed but can be added per customer request.
Dairy & Cattle Barn Installation
Holding areas and loafing sheds provide a good area for installation. Controlling insects in these areas provides a more comfortable atmosphere for livestock. Comfort often leads to increased production and higher yields.
One (1) spray nozzle assembly per 100 square feet with-in the interior of a shed or barn and one (1) spray nozzle assembly every 10 feet over any open side walls.
Kennel Installation
Both the interior and exterior areas of a kennel offer excellent spots for nozzle installations. Automatic spraying lowers mosquito and fly popualtions, thus adding comfort to animals.
Exterior: One (1) spray nozzle assembly per average length kennel run.
Interior: One (1) spray nozzle assembly for every 80 - 100 square feet.
Pyrethrin and Permethrin
These two insecticide ingredients are extremly effective against flying and crawling insects yet safe for use on and around animals.
Over the years we've learned that rotation between the two often can yield the best results. When used with PBO (Pipernyl butoxide), increased effectiveness, faster knockdown and lowered resistance are common advantages.
Automist Systems can help aid in the control of diseases carried by insects and parasites, thus reducing the potential spread of infections and contamination.
