Tabanids are a family of insects that include horse flies and deer flies. Active in the summer and fall seasons, tabanids can be difficult to control. Female horse flies take a blood meal that results in a painful bite. In grand proportions, tabanids can cause economic loss to animals through production loss, injury while avoiding a bite, or through secondary pathogen infection, as the wound left after a bite is often exposed and vulnerable.

Unfortunately, there are not many satisfactory control measures and management practices must be tailored to each facility. Treating animals with insecticides are often unsuccessful as tabanids do not stay on the host animal long enough to feel the effects. If you are faced with a tabanid problem, it is recommended that you shelter animals, if possible, as tabanids will avoid feeding indoors, and avoid pasturing animals near swampy areas.

Related Posts

Valent BioSciences, MGK, and Valent North America Become Sumitomo Biorational Company

October 21, 2025 Valent BioSciences LLC, MGK, and Valent North America LLC announced they will come together under a new unified organization named Sumitomo Biorational Company LLC (SBC), a...

Read More

MGK Expands the Sumari® System with the Launch of Sumari® Triton

October 1, 2025   Minneapolis, MN – MGK will use its platform at PestWorld 2025, the industry’s premier new product showcase, to announce its newest innovation: Sumari® Triton Ant Gel...

Read More

Darkling beetles in poultry facility

Beat the Beetles: Controlling Darkling Beetles in Poultry Facilities

Darkling beetles are persistent pests in poultry production, commonly found in broiler and turkey houses. Modern barns provide the warmth, food and moisture these insects need to thrive. Without...

Read More

chevron-right