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Skip Navigation LinksAll Horse Topics > Insect Control > Insect Control Strategies


Articles ( * = TheHorse.com members only )Date Posted
Oregon Rider Injured when Bees Swarm Horse  *
An Oregon woman was injured when bees swarmed her horse as she was riding on the Pacific Crest Trail, The Seattle Times reported. Donna Tewksbury was riding with four friends when the bees swarmed, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said. Her horse went to the ground, and she was stepped on when it tried to stand. She was airlifted to a Portland ... Read full story
 9/29/2009
Poll: Mosquito Control Measures  *
About 980 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, "What mosquito control measures do you utilize?" Results were as follows: Insect repellants 78.27% (767) Regular cleaning of water troughs 72.76% (713) Eliminate unnecessary standing water 66.33% (650) Regular manure removal 58.78% (576) Fly masks/sheets 52.55% (515) ... Read full story
 7/2/2009
Killer Bees Attack California Rider, Horses   *
A California equestrian was attacked by a swarm of aggressive Africanized honeybees--also known as "killer bees"--while riding on a public trail in Rolling Hills, Calif., last week., The Daily Breeze reported. Jacquie Ball was riding one horse and ponying a yearling on the Upper Si's Canyon Trail when the bees attacked. According to the report, she ... Read full story
 6/11/2009
Competent Caring  *
Paying attention to details--and keeping a log of those details--will help you manage your horse better. Proper care of a horse is a multi-faceted endeavor. In fact, when one looks at the big picture, it is almost overwhelming because there are so many aspects with which to be concerned. However, there is a relatively straightforward approach that ... Read full story
 4/1/2009
Mosquito Control Tips  *
Mosquitoes are more than just an annoyance: they're a disease threat. Manage your property to safeguard your animals (and you). Mention mosquitoes to most people and you will conjure up clear visions of the annoying little bloodsuckers that leave you itching. But horse owners and those living near humid, swampy areas often are more aware of the fact ... Read full story
 3/1/2009
New for Veterinarians and Equine Professionals  *
A year-round guide to what's available for assisting veterinary professionals--from novel gadgets to emerging therapies. Whether he's in the clinic or on the road, your vet tends to everyone's needs but his own. Good thing there are groups working to make his life easier. Here's a month-by-month look at conveniences for veterinary professionals. ... Read full story
 2/1/2009
Flies and Bugs  *
Your horses face external parasites year-round; be prepared to fight! Part of your management program for the year should include controlling external parasites and protecting horses from the ones that are difficult to control. Most parasites are seasonal, with populations dramatically increasing when temperature and moisture conditions are conducive ... Read full story
 1/1/2009
UK, Kentucky Equine Humane Center to Host Pasture Management Seminar  *
The University of Kentucky's pasture evaluation program will host a seminar called "Horse Pastures in the Fall: a Perfect Time to Renovate" in conjunction with the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC) at the center's facility in Nicholasville, Ky., on Tuesday, Aug. 26 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The seminar will feature guest speakers from UK who will touch ... Read full story
 8/6/2008
Mosquito Dunk Danger?
Q: Has there been any research on the safety of using "BTi mosquito dunks" in horse water troughs and buckets? Judy, Bar Harbor, Maine A: Mosquito dunks are a form of the solid-dwelling Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria (that's the "BT" part) variety israelensis (the "i" part) that come in a solid form. As they float the dunks slowly release ... Read full story
 8/1/2008
Flies Be Gone
Flies Be Gone traps offer effective, non-toxic fly control. The size of a football, each trap catches up to 20,000 flies. The easy-to-use device is disposable and requires no maintenance. Each unit comes complete with a protein-based natural fly food called Ultra Biomass, manufactured exclusively for Flies Be Gone. Ultra Biomass is effective for up ... Read full story
 7/3/2008
Readers Respond: Creepy Crawlies  *
Nearly 450 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, "Do you do anything to keep pregnant mares away from caterpillars on your farm?" Results were as follows: No: 65.77% (294) Yes: 23.49% (105) Why should I care?: 10.74% (48) Readers shared what they do to protect their mares in the comments below. Results of weekly ... Read full story
 5/24/2008
Readers Respond: That Ticks Me Off!  *
More than 1,700 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, "Do you have problems with ticks on your horse(s)?" Results were as follows: No: 40.73% (710) Yes, every year: 33.91% (591) Occasionally: 25.36% (442) Readers shared their tips on keeping their horses free from ticks in the comments below. Results of weekly ... Read full story
 5/19/2008
Groom Carefully as Tick Season Fires Up  *
Temperatures are warming, pastures are greening, and the flying, creeping, and crawling pests are making their yearly appearance. Some are large and obviously bothersome. Others, however, are pretty elusive. One that horse owners need to be particularly mindful about is the tick. Ticks are masters of "hide and seek." What does this mean to you, ... Read full story
 5/12/2008
MRLS: Caterpillar Population Up Sharply from 2007  *
Experts with the University of Kentucky (UK) report that Eastern tent caterpillars are now wandering in the area, and population levels are among the highest they've seen since the 2001, when mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) hit Central Kentucky particularly hard. "The Eastern tent caterpillar populations are dramatically up this year--the ... Read full story
 5/9/2008
Natural Fly Management  *
Control flies around your barn with tiny wasps that reduce fly populations, but don't sting horses or humans Controlling the flies around you and your horses is very important, not just because of the irritating bites, but because flies are also traveling vectors of disease. The housefly alone has been accused of spreading more than 30 bacterial and ... Read full story
 5/1/2008
Wound TLC  *
Horses are fight-or-flight animals notorious for injuring themselves. There are many types of wounds--from abrasions and bruises to puncture wounds and lacerations. Proper care as soon as possible after the wound occurs can often make a difference in how swiftly or completely it heals, and whether it becomes career-ending or life-threatening. David ... Read full story
 10/1/2007
Fenceline Nesting Box Birds Reduce Insect Population Organically  *
With a resident entomologist as its owner, Windrose Stables, a boarding facility in central California, was armed against insects, but biting stable, horse, and deerflies continued to be a serious problem. The number of manure-associated flies was also increasing. Manure flies serve as intermediate hosts for roundworms (Habronema muscae) and can ... Read full story
 6/13/2007
Autumn Pests
Q: Every fall, I see bot flies terrorizing my horses. I have tried to find a way to get rid of them or to even cut their numbers down, but I have not been successful. I have cows in the next pasture, and someone told me cows attract bot flies. Is this true? Tracy, Oroville, Calif. A: Bots are an inevitable aspect of equine ownership, ... Read full story
 10/1/2006
Study Leads to Safer Caterpillar Insecticides  *
Experts predicted that Eastern tent caterpillars (ETC) would begin showing up in greater numbers in Central Kentucky this spring, making it an especially important time for area horse farms to be implementing control strategies. One such strategy might be a re-cently released product resulting from research to find ways to prevent mare reproductive ... Read full story
 6/1/2006
The Buzz On Mosquitoes   *
Mosquito control experts and human health authorities are concerned that Americans are becoming complacent about protecting themselves and their horses against West Nile virus (WNV). They discussed this trend and new mosquito control techniques to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) ... Read full story
 5/3/2006
Protect Horses From Bugs  *
Flies and mosquitoes are a nuisance, causing irritation and discomfort as they feed on horses. They can also be a health risk, spreading West Nile virus, encephalomyelitis viruses, equine infectious anemia, vesicular stomatitis, and other diseases. In this article we will share some tips on eliminating these pests and give you some new ideas and insight ... Read full story
 4/1/2006
New England States Report Cases of EEE   *
Four New England states have confirmed 15 cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) this year; none of the horses survived. This suggests that horse owners should take further measures to protect horses against this deadly disease, such as making sure their horses are vaccinated and reducing mosquito populations. Eastern equine encephalitis is a ... Read full story
 11/1/2005
Practical Mosquito Control  *
In addition to vaccination, mosquito control is critical in protecting your horses against WNV. Here's quick review on controlling mosquito populations in your barn: Eliminate areas of standing water through improved drainage, or treat them with larvacides. Get rid of scrap tires that collect water or drill holes in them; turn over birdbaths, ... Read full story
 8/9/2005
Farnam Introduces Granular Larvacide for Mosquito Control  *
"The most important step any property owner can take to control mosquito populations is to remove all potential sources of stagnant water in which mosquitoes might breed," the USDA advises. Unfortunately, many necessary water sources cannot be eliminated such as livestock ponds and horse troughs. Farnam Companies has released a new weapon for the fight ... Read full story
 7/26/2005
Insect Invaders   *
The itsy-bitsy spider Climbed up the water spout. Down came the rain And washed the spider out. Out came the sun And dried up all the rain And the itsy-bitsy spider Climbed up the spout again. --Nursery rhyme Most of us remember that little nursery rhyme from childhood, accompanied by hand and arm gestures. It evokes a picture of a cute little spider ... Read full story
 7/1/2005
Triad Specialty Products Licenses Fly Control Product to Pfizer   *
Piedmont Pharmaceuticals' wholly owned company Triad Specialty Products announced on April 7 that it has licensed its equine feed-through fly control product to Pfizer Animal Health. Triad developed the product and received regulatory clearance to market it in early 2004. Originally marketed as Serene Feed-Through Fly Control by Triad, it is now being ... Read full story
 6/1/2005
$1M Awarded in Equitrol Lawsuit; Farnam Plans Appeal   *
A jury awarded $1,007,500 to plaintiffs who alleged in a lawsuit that Farnam's Equitrol, a feed-through fly control product, was defectively designed and caused harm to their Thoroughbred and Warmblood sport horses. Farnam countered with a press release stating that it is appealing the decision and believes that the court decision is incorrect on legal ... Read full story
 6/1/2004
Eastern Tent Caterpillars Still Targeted in Kentucky   *
The forsythia were blooming at the end of March, and in Kentucky, that means that Eastern tent caterpillars (ETC) were hatching. In 2001 and 2002, those caterpillars crawled across many farms in Central Kentucky and left in their path what was later termed mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), which caused abortions in thousands of Thoroughbred broodmares. ... Read full story
 6/1/2004
Cicadas are Coming--But Shouldn't Affect Horses   *
After a 17-year absence from Kentucky, one of the largest-known broods of periodical cicadas will emerge this spring, but it doesn't appear that the cicadas' arrival should cause any harm to horses. Periodical cicadas--having black bodies, bright red eyes, and amber wings with orange veins--usually emerge in mid- to late May. Tree damage will result ... Read full story
 6/1/2004
Buyer Beware: Some Pesticides Might Be Duds   *
In the spring and early summer each year, vendors might appear in your area, selling ineffective chemicals at seemingly cut-rate prices. Rule of thumb: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture receives many complaints in the spring from consumers who have purchased ineffective chemicals over the telephone ... Read full story
 6/1/2004
WNV Satellite Conference: Remain Wary of Disease  *
The years 2002 and 2003 have been the years of the horse, as far as West Nile virus (WNV) is concerned, said Robert Restifo, MS, Public Health Entomologist Administrator and chief of Ohio's Vector-borne Disease Program, at the third annual West Nile Virus Satellite Conference, in late March. "Once WNV gets into an area, it tends to stay there," he ... Read full story
 5/4/2004
Equitrol Lawsuit  *
A jury has returned a verdict of $1,007,500 to plaintiffs alleging in a lawsuit that Farnam's product Equitrol, a feed-through fly control product, was defectively designed and caused harm to their horses; Farnam has countered with a press release stating that it is appealing the decision and believes that the court decision is incorrect on legal and ... Read full story
 4/7/2004
Halt the Assault  *
In 2003, a total of 5,087 horses and more than 9,000 humans were infected with West Nile virus (WNV), according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Center for Disease Control, and individual state statistics. The statistics are sobering. Yet WNV isn't the only threat posed by the common mosquito. All forms of arboviral encephalitis ... Read full story
 4/1/2004
The Death Squad  *
Choosing a fly, mosquito, or tick formula for your horse or barn is a lot like selecting a hand lotion: You can pick from extra moisturizing, scented, hypoallergenic, etc., or packaged in tubes, jars, bottles, but the bottom line is they are all still lotions. Ditto the equine insecticides. There are plenty of them out there, but the vast majority ... Read full story
 4/1/2004
WNV: Treatment and Prevention  *
"West Nile virus (WNV) is the number one diagnosed neurologic disease in horses, or close to it," said William Saville, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, of The Ohio State University, at a March 10 Fort Dodge Animal Health educational seminar for veterinarians held in Lexington, Ky. "Because of the decreased number of cases in 2003 compared to 2002, people are ... Read full story
 3/18/2004
Organophosphate-Free Feed-Through Fly Control  *
On Nov. 24, Triad Specialty Products announced pending approval of a new feed-through fly control product. Serene Feed-Through Fly Control, which was designed for reducing fly populations in and around equine facilities, is in the final stages of the regulatory process, and should be available to horse owners before the end of the year. According ... Read full story
 11/25/2003
Pesticide Applicators Must Be Licensed  *
To keep consumers safe, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture works to make sure that all persons who apply pesticides to someone else’s property are properly licensed. All commercial pesticide applicators must be licensed through the Department’s Division of Pesticide Regulation under state law. These applicators include turf and lawn care professionals, ... Read full story
 5/19/2003
Pest Control for Horses  *
Horse operations attract a lot of visitors, many of them welcome. People come to admire the horses and the beautiful barns and paddocks where they are kept. Then there are the biting insects and the wild things, winged or legged, that come uninvited, and all too often bring along disease. Stable hygiene is the first line of defense in keeping unwanted ... Read full story
 4/7/2003
Pasture Management and MRLS  *
In the spring of 2001, hundreds of mares in Central Kentucky lost their pregnancies in peculiar abortions attributed to mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS). Since then, horse farm managers have gone back to square one in reviewing their pasture management practices. One certain result is they have developed a greater awareness of what’s lurking ... Read full story
 4/7/2003
EEE and WNV Hit Florida  *
Ten cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and one case of West Nile virus (WNV) have been confirmed by serological testing as of April 3 in eight Florida counties, according to Leroy Coffman, DVM, Florida’s state veterinarian and director of the Division of Animal Industry. This is the first reported case of WNV in Florida this year, and possibly ... Read full story
 4/3/2003
Caterpillar Control  *
Because of the proposed link of the Eastern tent caterpillar (ETC) and mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), the Grayson/Jockey Club Research Foundation and the University of Kentucky held an informational session earlier today (Jan. 31) on controlling and eradicating caterpillars. The main presenter was Dan A. Potter, a professor in the entomology ... Read full story
 1/31/2003
Kentucky Farm Managers Address MRLS  *
President Eric Hamelback gave a sense of urgency as he opened the most recent meeting of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club, saying "we need to make plans for control now." Hamelback was referring to Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome, an affliction which caused early and late fetal loss in Central Kentucky in 2001 and 2002, and was also the ... Read full story
 11/6/2002
Controlling Mosquitoes with Pheromones   *
A new product that can help control mosquito populations is currently under development. Materia, Inc., has developed a cost-effective synthesized version of the natural pheromone called Mosquito Oviposition Pheromone (MOP). MOP is naturally produced by female mosquitoes of the Culex genus when laying eggs as a signal to other female mosquitoes to ... Read full story
 10/1/2002
Safety Tips for Animal Owners During Mosquito Spraying  *
As more cases of West Nile virus (WNV)-associated illness have been diagnosed in people and horses, communities have taken steps to prevent spread of the virus. Mosquito control is the most effective means of preventing spread of WNV and many communities are including spray application of pesticides in their control programs. Although approved pesticides ... Read full story
 8/22/2002
Poison Control: Spraying Pastures with Insecticides  *
No definite cause of mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) has been identified, but a recent discovery that Eastern tent caterpillars (ETC) can cause early fetal losses (and likely contributed to MRLS) has scientists at the University of Kentucky focusing on eliminating the insects from horse farms. On May 2, 2002, during the optimal ETC eradication ... Read full story
 6/19/2002
First Pour-On Fly Repellent  *
With external pests being a considerable problem this year, owners are looking for any means to prevent attacks by flies and other insects. Boehringer Ingelheim has introduced a pour-on insecticide available only through your veterinarian. Called Buzz Off, this insecticide is touted as controlling horn, stable, deer, and horse flies at a fairly high ... Read full story
 11/2/2001
Mosquito Wars  *
West Nile virus (WNV) is spreading, and horse owners are asking, "What can I do to protect my horses?" The good news is that a vaccine for horses has been developed and conditionally approved by the USDA. Experts say the WNV vaccine should work like other encephalitis vaccines, which are protective. However, responsible horse owners must take steps ... Read full story
 10/1/2001
Pests  *
Ah, summer! The weather is blissfully hot in the day, and gently warm at night. Our horses lay in the sunshine, baking away aches and slowing into summertime mode. The insects whiz by our heads anytime we are outdoors. The infrequent rains seem to wash the air clear and leave small puddles in unexpected places, like that old, cracked flower pot by ... Read full story
 9/17/2001
Fly Protection Uncovered  *
Every season has its trials when it comes to horse-keeping. Although we might pine for sunny skies when we're battling spring mud, the turning of the seasons quickly reminds us of one of winter's little blessings -- no buzzing, biting, annoying flies! When those squadrons of pests descend on us from above, driving us and our horses to distraction (not ... Read full story
 9/17/2001
Insects and Parasites: Fighting Fall Foes  *
Every horseperson has his or her preference when it comes to stall bedding. Some like the smell of sweet cedar shavings, some the traditional look of a deep straw bed, others the absorbency and softness of peat moss. But which bedding really is best for your horse? In a simple study conducted at the Equine Research Centre in Guelph, Ontario, five ... Read full story
 8/1/2001
Lyme Disease  *
Lyme disease might not be the most prevalent equine disease you face with your horses, but it does exist, and it can seriously impact a horse's health. And that's not all. Although documented cases of Lyme disease in horses are relatively rare, there are indications that the disease is on the increase. Lameness, arthritis, neurologic disease, uveitis ... Read full story
 7/1/2000
Applying Insect Repellents  *
For many horse owners, applying fly control products to a horse involves nothing more than spritzing on a little spray before turning out or tacking up. But other owners don't have it so easy: The horse shies away from the spritzer bottle, won't tolerate fly products on its face, or breaks out in a rash from the repellents. Regardless of whether your ... Read full story
 6/1/2000
Early Mosquito Activity Reported in Maryland   *
Agriculture Officials Recommend Prompt Vaccination of Horses Areas of Maryland from Baltimore to the lower Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland are experiencing an early outbreak of mosquitoes this year, prompting State officials to recommend precautions for horses and people. The mild winter and a wet spring created favorable breeding and hatching ... Read full story
 5/1/2000
Bee Prepared  *
If you live in the South or Southwest, you have certainly heard, or read, about the northward progression of African honeybees, more sensationally known as "killer bees." "Elderly Woman Attacked By Killer Bees," The Arizona Daily Star, 10/95; "How To Deal With Killer Bee Attacks," Green Valley News and Sun, Arizona, 7/9/95; "Bees Kill Two Horses, ... Read full story
 3/1/1996




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