S & W Pest Management Inc : Insect Guide

Horse Fly
Tabanus atratus
Color: Dark gray to black
Legs: Six
Shape: Small oval
Size: 3/4" - 1 1/8"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes

The Horse fly or "Stable Fly" resemble house flies except for the slender, pointed, sharp beak used to pierce skin and suck blood. Bites are quite painful and both males and females suck blood.

Normally an outdoor fly, it attacks any warmblooded animal from rats to humans. Females lay four to five batches of eggs, each containing 100 to 150 eggs, in rotting straw; stable manure; moist, spilled feed, piles of lawn clippings, meadows and open grasslands, near marshy areas or slow streams.

Domestic flies, are not only a nuisance by their presence, but are important from a human and animal health standpoint.These flies may transmit anthrax and possibly infantile paralysis, leprosy, surra and swamp fever.

Prevention:

There are usually two reasons flies are found in and around homes. First, flies are being attracted to the building by trash containers or pet feces and second, openings such as doors or windows are permitting flies to enter. Here are some tips for reducing flies in and around your home:

Store garbage in trash cans in plastic bags. Plastic bags reduce odors that attract flies to the area.
Move trash cans as far from the building as possible.
Keep doors and windows closed unless equipped with tight screens.
Ensure all edges of doors and windows have tight weather stripping.
Remove animal feces from your yard.

If you would like to make an appointment with S & W Pest Management, please fill out the online appointment form or call 1-877-989-BUGS.