FLIES
- Musca domestica (Common House Fly),
- Fannia canicularis (Little House Fly),
- Stomoxys calcitans (Stable Fly)
Controlling Flies on Dairy Ranches
Continuous manure management is the key to successfully minimizing the production of flies. Manure having a moisture content between 45% and 85% is attractive to adult female flies seeking a place to deposit their eggs. Fresh bovine feces is about 75% water, therefore it is imperative that the manure be dried very quickly to prevent fly breeding.
Care must be practiced in order to remove wastes along curbs, fence lines, and commodity storage areas. The piled manure and wastes must be composted properly by turning every two to three days to minimize fly production.
Calf pens are also important areas of concern regarding fly production. The manure under the pens and the spilled feed in front provide excellent habitats for flies. Frequent removal the waste is crucial toward the reduction of biting flies is to be avoided.
Primarily three types of flies are found in cow manure and feed in the Chino Valley area: the Common House Fly (Musca domestica), the Little House Fly (Fannia sp.), and the Stable Fly (Stomoxys calcitans). The Little House Fly is prevalent during spring and fall, particularly in calf manure. It is the one that flies around in circles in shaded areas most of the time. These flies become less noticeable when temperatures rise above about 80 degrees F. The Common House Fly prefers warmer temperatures and is most prevalent during the summer months. It rests on walls and windows in the early morning and early evening hours. The Stable Fly breeds in mixtures of manure, hay, and grains. It is most common in the spring and can cause great irritation to domestic animals and people by biting.
Flytraps, bait stations, and electric grids can aid in fly control as supplements to manure management and chemical control measures.
Points to remember about flies:
- Remove wet manure and quickly dry it
- Properly compost stored manure
- Clean up compost and waste feeds
- Use aerosol insecticide sprays to kill adult flies
West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District