Fly Predators

One of the issues that all livestock owners deal with is fly control, and one way to do that is through the use of fly predators. This week, our first shipment arrived, and we needed to wait until at least a dozen of the little bugs hatched (which they did in a few days). Then, we sprinkle them around the poop piles in the barn and outside. The winged predators are the size of a healthy gnat and can fly about 100 feet from where they hatch (the ones that are still in the pupa when we sprinkle them will hatch soon). They will prey on the fly larvae and help keep that population under control. (We still have some flies, but we'll also get the bag traps later on in the season to help with the others.) Fly predators are shipped to us once a month from April through September (sort of like some people get gourmet foods once a month - but we get insects instead!). We know the spring is here once the predators arrive!