The Best Horse Fly Traps

Horse fly traps are almost a necessity in areas where horse flies and other biting insects are most populous. Female horse flies are large and have a tendency to bite livestock and humans. This makes them terrible pests, especially around the home. To minimize the presence of horse flies, many people invest in traps to reduce the population so that they can exist outdoors in peace.

Horse fly traps are used primarily outdoors in horse fly infested areas. Generally speaking, many people choose to put horse fly traps around entrances, or around outdoor areas where they will be spending a lot of time (such as pools, patios, or gardens). The purpose of a horse fly trap is to attract horse flies to the trap itself, where bait is set to lure the flies to the trap. The trap itself is usually coated in a sticky concoction – which may also be the bait – and once the fly lands on the sticky solution, the horse fly will often remain stuck until it dies.

Horse fly traps are generally used outdoors in areas where horse fly populations are highest. Families with children will often put traps around areas where the kids play, thus reducing the number of bites they receive. Because horse fly trap bait tends to smell awful, putting traps away from windows and doors is generally advisable.

Key parts of horse fly traps

There are many different kinds of horse fly traps, all with different ways of securing the horse fly and preventing it from escaping. However, between all horse fly traps, there are two very distinct parts that carry across all models:

• Bait: This is the most important part of a horse fly trap. Bait is used to lure the horse fly in, and features a scent that’s attractive to horse flies. This could be anything from sugar to vinegar to even the scent of rotting meat and manure, which is what horse flies are drawn to.
• Container: A good horse fly trap has a way to keep the horse flies from escaping. In many cases, this will simply be an easy to empty container (such as a disposable bag or a plastic tub). In other traps, a sticky coating that covers the trap will be sufficient. Once the trap is full of horse flies, it’s simply a matter of cleaning the trap and reusing, or disposing the trap entirely and re-setting up the trap.

Horse fly traps are primarily used with homeowners who wish to eliminate the nuisance of horse flies around the home. Generally, the horse fly trap will be set up away from doors, so as not to attract horseflies too close to entrances where they could get inside the home. Next to a swimming pool, or porch, or a deck is a great place to put horse fly traps. Other locations can include hanging them from trees or underneath the eaves of the home.

How does a horse fly trap work?

A horse fly trap is not a complicated mechanism, though the manner of setting up the trap differs from product to product. First, set up the trap in a location that has female horse flies. Female horse flies are important because they are the ones that bite. Female horse flies feed on blood (usually from horses) in order to sustain themselves. In addition, most horse fly traps are specifically tailored to female horse flies.

Once the bait is activated, and your trap is set in the location of your choice, then it’s simply a matter of letting the horse fly trap do what it does best. After a while, you may need to clean out or change the horse fly trap to ensure maximum efficiency.

Horse fly traps can replace more expensive bug zapper lamps, though horse fly traps are more tailored towards female horse flies and not so much for mosquitoes and other nuisance insects. Some customers that have purchased horse fly traps have claimed that their horse fly trap has captured numerous biting insects besides horse flies. In the end, it is a matter of determining what is the bigger nuisance around your home, and to set up traps accordingly.

With so many horse fly traps on the market, it’s hard to choose the right ones for your needs. However, there are some key things to look for to ensure you pick the right trap to suit you.

Type of trap

Many horse fly traps require that you hang the trap from something. There are also some horse fly traps (like the Bite-Lite) that are instead staked out in the ground. If you’re in an apartment with a balcony, you may be better off with a hanging trap.

Bait used

For some people, the type of bait is important. There are natural, pesticide-free traps that seek to provide a natural way to dispose of flies. While natural baits are better at attracting flies, they also have a tendency to smell terrible in an effort to mimic the horse flies preferred food and laying environment. Synthetic baits and sticky surfaces may not smell as bad, but they also may sacrifice effectiveness.

Lifespan

The effective lifetime of the trap is important when determining what trap to buy. If you have to replace the trap once a month, you may be better off with a cheaper, disposable trap. Some of the more expensive traps have years of effective life to them, with you only needing to clean them out and reset the bait once every couple of months.

Once you set your horse fly trap, you should begin to see improvements almost immediately. Horsefly traps only need to be replaced once in a while, usually when the trap begins to fill up with insects. Otherwise, many traps employ a “set and forget” method of trapping, where you can simply hang your trap somewhere in your yard and forget about it until it’s time to change it again.
Horse flies are a common nuisance, especially in the summer months. Between harassing livestock and annoying people, there is no doubt that one may want to get rid of horse flies in the most effective way possible. There are numerous choices to choose from when it comes to horse flies, ranging from subtle to industrial-sized traps for really big infestations. Choosing the right horse fly trap for you can be a bit overwhelming, but our top three choices are a great fit for any kind of house and any kind of budget.

1. The Flies Be Gone Outdoor Trap is a great choice for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that’s effective without being bulky. It’s priced right and can be used around any location. While you do need to purchase a whole new unit each time it needs replacing, it’s a great, low-cost trap that works as advertised.
2. The Rescue Disposable Fly Trap is a perfectly suitable alternative to the Flies Be gone, and is much cheaper as well. The disposable bag is great for catching flies and is very easy to replace. The only downside is the smell is terrible, but that’s what catches flies!
3. While the Bite-Lite Horse Fly Trap is also among the best on the market today, boasting powerful fly catching abilities with very little maintenance. For the most part, customers say that it works! It’s a standing trap that catches flies very easily, though it’s mostly used around stables where horse flies are prone to be a huge problem. It’s also the most expensive on the list, which makes it less suitable for home use.