You might have encountered a horsefly if you experience a painful bite from a flying insect. These bloodthirsty bugs are no fun to have around, and you probably want to get rid of them.

To eliminate horse flies, first identify them as the culprits of your bites. They are larger than house flies, have big eyes, and are most active during the hottest times of the day. Next, you can create a horse fly trap with a dark bucket and sweet liquid that will attract the insects and cause them to drown. Then, you can work on prevention by understanding what attracts them and eliminating those conditions from your property.

Horse flies are one of the most annoying insects to have around. Keep reading for my expert tips on getting rid of the bloodthirsty flies.

Identifying Horse Flies

Before getting rid of horseflies, you have to know what they look like to be sure you’re targeting the correct insect. First, you’ll notice these flying bugs are big and stout, growing up to one and a quarter inches long, making them one of the largest flies you’ll encounter. 

Generally, female horseflies are bigger than males. Both genders’ bodies are mostly black and yellow; their wings are black, and they have an orange or yellow belly. In some areas, they could be all gray or have bright orange, densely bristled hind legs.

These flies have large compound eyes that might be green or black. Some horseflies have a red dot on the tip of their snout. 

Behavior & Habits of Horse Flies

A characteristic behavior of horseflies is landing on your leg, making a painful bite, and drawing blood. They seek out meals, feasting on the blood of wild animals, pets, livestock, and humans.

In fact, horseflies are one of the most dangerous insects to domesticated animals because they spread disease. Their preferred targets are hoofed mammals, such as:

• Horses
• Cows
• Goats
• Donkeys
• Mules
• Ponies

Horse flies prefer sunny areas near water sources like streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. They aren’t active at night, being most active during the hottest hours.

Horse Fly Bites On Humans

Most people want to get rid of horse flies for their painful bites. Male and female horse flies feed on nectar for most of their lives, but females need a blood meal to produce eggs, which is when they might bite you.

Unlike mosquito bites, horse fly bites hurt immediately and often bleed. Also, you might experience a red bump on the bite site, dizziness, wheezing, weakness, or itching around the eyes and lips.

In rare cases, people have allergic reactions, but horsefly bites are normally treatable at home. For treatment, it’s best to wash the bite site with soap and water, then take over-the-counter pain medication if you need to alleviate pain and swelling. 

Life Cycle of a Horsefly

Knowing the horse fly life cycle can help you prepare to eliminate them when they are in more vulnerable stages. For instance, if you can find a way to destroy them in their larval stage, you won’t have to worry about being bitten.

Their lives unfold into four distinct phases: egg, larval, pupae, and adult. Some characteristics and timing of these life cycle stages are:

1. Horse fly eggs’ hatching period depends on the temperature, with warmer temperatures leading to shorter incubation times.
2. The larvae need warm, wet areas to grow, such as mud puddles, swamps, or the banks of water bodies. They eat and grow at this time, and when they’re ready for the next phase, they burrow into the earth to metamorphose.
3. Most horseflies spend a week or two in the pupae phase, transforming from a worm into a flying insect. Amazingly, some species spend from 48 days to three years as pupae.
4. Adult horse flies emerge in hot months and live for about two months before reproducing and dying.

Eliminating Horse Flies

Unfortunately, there’s no perfect method for trapping or killing horse flies in significant numbers. You can swat at them as they land on you, but they’re likely to bite you before you notice them and have a chance to kill them. 

What is the Best Trap For Horseflies?

You can make an effective trap for horseflies with items you might already have around your home.

Materials Needed:

1. Dark-colored bucket (black or dark blue works well)
2. Water
3. Sweet substance (molasses, sugar, or a combination)
4. String or twine
5. Optional: Dish soap (to break the water’s surface tension)

Steps To Create A Horsefly Trap:

1. Identify areas where horse flies are a problem, such as near stables, paddocks, or outdoor spaces where you or your animals spend time.
2. Use a dark-colored bucket as horse flies are attracted to dark colors. The contrast helps attract them to the trap.
3. Fill the bucket about one-third with water. Ensure that the water level is sufficient to submerge the horse flies when they come into contact with it.
4. Add a sweet substance to attract horse flies. Molasses or sugar dissolved in water can be effective. You can experiment with the ratio, but a few tablespoons of molasses or sugar per gallon of water is a good starting point.
5. Consider adding a small amount of dish soap to the water. This can break the surface tension, making it more difficult for horse flies to escape once they land on the water.
6. Stir the mixture to ensure the sweet substance is well-distributed in the water.
7. Tie a piece of string or twine around the bucket, creating a loop for hanging. Ensure it is securely fastened.
8. Hang the bucket trap in the selected area using the loop. Make sure it is positioned at a height where horseflies can easily see and be attracted.
9. Regularly check the trap for captured horse flies. Empty the trap as needed and replenish the water and sweet substance to maintain effectiveness.
10. If the trap doesn’t attract enough horseflies, experiment with adjusting the sweetness or moving the trap to a different location.

What Will Keep Horse Flies Away?

The best way to eliminate horse flies is to ensure they never come near you. Some tactics you can use to prevent horseflies are:

• These insects need standing water. Therefore, eliminating puddles and improving drainage can limit horsefly numbers.
• Use insect repellents that repel horse flies. Look for products containing DEET or picaridin.
• While many essential oils might attract horseflies, citronella oil is an excellent repellant. Fortunately, this is the same ingredient in many anti-mosquito products, giving you access to candles or oil diffusers that will work to keep horse flies away from you.
• Cover exposed skin with long-sleeved shirts and long pants When outdoors where horseflies are prevalent. Horse flies are attracted to dark colors, so wearing light-colored clothing may make you less appealing.
• Horse flies are most active during the daytime, especially in the warmer months. If possible, avoid outdoor activities during peak horsefly activity times.
• Keep doors and windows screened to prevent horse flies from entering your home or stable.
• If you keep horses, regularly clean their stables and areas where they spend time to reduce the attractiveness of the environment to horse flies.

Will Vinegar Keep Horse Flies Away?

There’s little or no scientific evidence proving vinegar’s effectiveness in keeping horse flies away. However, some people believe that the strong odor of vinegar may help keep horse flies at bay. 

On the other hand, others suggest using vinegar as bait for a horse fly trap. As you can see, you’re probably better off choosing another method for getting rid of horse flies.

What Attracts Horse Flies?

Knowing what attracts horse flies and avoiding those things can help you get rid of them. Many environmental stimuli appeal to horse flies, such as:

• Carbon Dioxide- Like many other blood-eating insects, horse flies are attracted to carbon dioxide. This is a tricky one to eliminate because we breathe it out, but you could stay away from animals to lower your chances of attracting horse flies.
• Body Heat- The warmth emitted by the bodies of humans and animals attracts horse flies. They’re drawn to the heat signatures of potential hosts.
• Movement- Horse flies are attracted to movement. They are strong visual hunters, and they may target moving objects, including animals and people.
• Dark Colors- They might be attracted to dark shapes resembling the outlines and shadows of large mammals, like deer, horses, bears, and buffalo.
• Body Odors and Perspiration- The odors produced by perspiration, body odors, and certain scents can attract horse flies. This includes the scent of sweat and other bodily secretions.
• Shiny Objects- Horse flies are attracted to polarized light, which is light that vibrates in a specific direction. Reflected polarized light from water surfaces, shiny objects, or certain vegetation can attract them.
• Visual Patterns- Horse flies are visual hunters and may be attracted to visual patterns, especially ones that look like they’re moving. Dark and contrasting patterns may be particularly appealing to them.
• Breeding Sites- Female horse flies lay their eggs near water, so areas with standing water or damp environments can attract them. Also, they prefer sites with plenty of decaying vegetation and organic matter.
• Host-Specific Chemicals- Specific chemicals emitted by preferred hosts attract horse flies. These chemicals are often present in the skin secretions of animals.

What Attracts Horse Flies In A Home?

A horse fly would most likely be attracted to your home because it smells your or your pet’s breath or body odor. It’s hard to stop breathing or smelling like yourself, so you need to find other ways to keep horse flies out.

You can make your home less appealing to horse flies by keeping blinds closed during the day, making your home darker. Also, use screens on your windows and doors. Finally, a clean home is less attractive to horse flies, especially if you live with pets.