Can Attractive Sticky Traps Be Used to Protect Horses From the Bites of Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae).

The study investigates the effectiveness of using attractive sticky traps to protect horses from the bites of Stomoxys calcitrans, a bloodsucking ectoparasite. The researchers found that while these traps can catch a significant number of flies, they do not necessarily prevent the flies from biting horses.

Introduction and Objectives

• The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), is a major pest for wildlife, livestock and human. It’s a bloodsucking ectoparasite causing discomfort and distress.
• Companies selling sticky traps claim they can protect animals from fly bites, but this study aimed to investigate these claims more thoroughly, using Home and Garden Mosquito (HGM) sticky traps as the research medium.

Methodology

• The study was conducted at the University of Florida Horse Teaching Unit, utilizing broodmares as test animals. The mares were coated with a fluorescent dust to track the flies’ interactions with the horses.
• Flies captured on traps before visiting the horses were deemed “unmarked,” while those captured afterward were classified as “marked.”
• Different colored dyes were used to mark the flies, including Signal Green, though the study does not elaborate on the reasoning or impact of the different colors.

Results

• More than 40% of flies captured near the horses were marked, indicating that they had visited the horses before being captured. This suggests that the traps do not prevent flies from reaching the horses.
• Both marked and unmarked flies demonstrated evidence of recent feeding, showing blood in their guts.
• For an undisclosed reason, the number of flies marked with Signal Green dust exceeded the numbers marked with other colors. The impact of this unexpected outcome is unclear.

Conclusion

• The study confirmed that while the HGM traps are capable of capturing substantial numbers of stable flies, they do not prevent the flies from biting horses.
• The research identifies a need for further investigation to determine the most effective trap placement and densities for effective stable fly management.