Old Problem, New Solutions:

Every summer we gear up to battle the insects that enjoy Southern California as much as we do. Not simply a nuisance, they come with baggage in the form of disease that can be deadly to animals. The first line of attack on biting insects has not changed, and isn’t likely to. Keep the stable area as clean of manure and standing water as possible, eliminating breeding grounds.

One relatively new product is a feed through insecticide, Solitude IGR, available through our office. It is reportedly very effective against house flies and stable flies. Solitude IGR is an alfalfa based pellet, fed daily, that passes through the animal and inhibits the growth of fly larvae in the manure. No adverse effects have been noted to date. This product may work well if you don’t have flies migrating in from other areas.

Biological controls, such as parasitic wasps or other fly parasites may be beneficial in some situations. It is important to identify the fly you are bothered by before purchasing wasps, or any large scale control plan. Check websites for identification of the pest. A couple sites to try are www.insectary.com and www.spalding-labs.com.

The short-term solutions, mostly sprays, still have their place. The best insecticides used directly on the animal last only a few days, the majority last a few hours. Spraying the premises usually has a longer residual effect, again depending on the type of fly. House flies will enter buildings, so premise sprays may be very successful on them.

The West Nile threat comes again with mosquito season. We urge our clients to vaccinate every six months, and again, removing standing water is the first line of defense.

Last year we saw many cases of “dry-land distemper” or pigeon fever in the area. Open sores afford easy access to flies spreading this disease. A repellent ointment made specifically for open wounds (such as Swat) should help.