Fly spray

[Joseph Sullivan]

Friends:

Due to the warm winter and wet spring, we have a remarkable bumper crop of biting insects hereabouts. As a result, I am reearching fly spray. Some I've used is marginal at best. Can enyone recommend any really good ones, or any to avoid?

[Couvi]

I have some ‘Bronco’ left from when I had to spray the front door because we had a feed lot across the road from us. It worked for a day, then had to be re-applied. I was never terribly happy with it.

[Hopalong]

I've been through this dilemma for decades.
A good fly spray can make or break my day, with stomping, shaking, and swishing of tails.
I would avoid any pre-mixed expensive spray with outrageous claims like lasting 14 days, and having sunscreen.
I've seen just about every homemade spray, from vinegar to skin so soft.
I'd recommend getting a concentrate with citronella, or eucalyptus. The oilier the better, the watery stuff evaporates too fast.
Mix it stronger than directed. These "natural" based sprays seem to work ok, if mixed strong.
The thing that works the best, but is messy and more work to apply is "WIPE"
This stuff is really oily, and messy, but works the best and lasts the longest.
Get a thick rag or mitt, and store it in a coffee can.
Use the same rag every day.
Don't forget to get the underbelly.
The old formula Wipe works better than the new stuff, but overall this oily stuff works better by far.

[Pat Holscher]

We have some stuff we use, but I'll have ask what it is as I can't recall. Having said that, I've only found it to be marginal at best, and I'll really look forward to seeing what the replies are here.

I'll particularly look forward to this as I find flies to be nearly hazardous in some localities here during June. Probably earlier this year. When we trail, we trail up a canyon that is bug central and it drives the horses crazy. Last year it was so bad that that the horses were becoming very agitated about it, which is not a fun thing at all when you are mounted on one.

[roy elderkin]

Joe are these insects biting you or the animals, for biting insects have you tried citronella, it may go under another name in the USA. The other method may be to make smudge pots, you put either wet or damp straw, or sawdust into a 44 gallon drum, make sure you have a vent at the bottom. This creates a smoke cloud to drive the insects away, we used this around the stables in Africa,

[Steve Haupt]

Greetings,
One of the most effective products I have tried is Spot-On for Horses.It takes about one day to start working and is good for up to three weeks.Placing a few drops on the face and then going down the top line with drops on the scapula,knees and hocks as well as the top of the tail has worked.You can hose a sweaty horse off as long as you don't shampoo.
Friends a few years ago when riding in the Sierras galled some of their horses by using Wipe under the saddle blankets.
Hope this helps as the horses in training in the barn get dosed 3X a day from the overhead system.
Cheers,
Steve Haupt
http://HauptsValleyFarm.mystarband.net

[Couvi]

How did the Army treat for flies? I know they had sprinkler carts for sprinkling paddocks and such, but know little else about the subject.

[hbtoday98]

I use 'Ripcord' I get from farm supply store I use it on horses I spray there covers and in the house its asynthetic pyrethroid insecticide made American Cyanamic company.
mal

[selewis]

I've tried a half a dozen different brands with varying results, but when the bugs are really bad I always end up returning to Wipe, the pungent and pricey oily stuff- because it works.

Sandy

[selewis]

Here's a method one might like to try. I use an old plastic sour cream container to hold fly repellant. In it are two cotton socks. The bottom sock is saturated with repellant and acts as a reservoir and the top sock serves as an applicator. I keep the container in the old galvanized bucket that holds my grooming gear. It doesn't spill or foul my brushes, nor take up much space.

S.

[Pat Holscher]

http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin ... IZE=medium