Special to the OBSERVER
The stable fly is usually found right where you would expect to find it, around livestock areas. You might see animals in pasture stomping repeatedly, tail switching and skin quivering; they are trying to shake off the stable fly from their legs and belly areas. What happens when you live near a livestock area or their numbers get large enough that they are seen outside their normal range? You may find a few stable flies landing on your ankles taking a bite. Brushing them off doesn't stop them from coming back as they are aggressive flies.
The stable fly looks similar to a regular house fly but they have knife-like mouthparts that pierce the skin to allow them access to their blood meal. Both male and female stable flies feed on blood several times a day. Stable flies can be transported long distances on weather fronts. These flies are a nuisance to both humans and livestock alike. While we can escape into our homes, animals have a harder time; production performance declines in infested herds because of the flies' painful biting activity and animal fatigue from trying to dislodge flies
Control in both the human and livestock settings requires reducing available breeding grounds. In a home-ground setting you should rake up and compost moist lawn clippings to reduce populations. Compost piles must be turned periodically to keep the pile hot and decomposition active. In a livestock scenario you would clean up any: spilled animal feed, moist soil with round bale interface, spilled feed around feed bunks, poorly managed compost areas and water weeds washed to shorelines.
New fly catching traps are being evaluated as a way to manage this pest. A new trap "that has shown to have promise is constructed of clear alsynite (a fiberglass-like material) cylinder. Alsynite is attractive to these biting flies. When outfitted with a clear sticky surface, alsynite (biting fly) traps have been quite effective at capturing stable flies. At least two stable fly traps are available commercially. Two possible sources among others are Olson Products Biting Fly Trap (alsynite) and Farnam's Equine Products (non-alsynite but attracts via another method).
Alsynite traps are currently being used at the Cornell Dairy Farm with much success. Researchers have recently learned that hanging a black cotton cloth (2X2 ft. size) near the trap increases the amount of flies trapped by three-fold. Flies are attracted to the black cloth thinking it is the side of a cow! Alsynite traps are a great addition to your current fly control methods; they are inexpensive, easy to setup, and not a chemical control method. You can purchase these traps online."
Don't forget Rover! Stable flies are indiscriminant; they will also feed on our most loyal friend the dog. If you have an outdoor dog or are outside a lot with your pet, know that stable flies will feed on the edges of their ears. There are insect repellents containing permethrin or pyrethrins that are effective at keeping them at bay. (Read the label to be sure they are for your pet and follow the directions carefully).
No one likes to be bitten by anything, let alone an aggressive biting fly, but reducing breeding grounds and installing some great biting fly traps will make the summer restful again.
Colleen Cavagna, Cornell Cooperative Extension Community Educator