Fly Facts
Know the flies affecting your cattle's productivity.
House Fly
The house fly, Musca domestica
- While house flies do not suck or bite, they do spread disease. [More]
- House fly populations recover quickly from spot fly control treatments. [More]
Stable Fly
The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans
- This obligate blood-feeder mainly bites the legs and flanks of cattle and is active only during the day. [More]
- Stable flies are considered by some as the most serious insect pest affecting feedlot and confined dairy cattle in the U.S. during summer months.1 [More]
Face Fly
The face fly, Musca autumnalis
- The mouthparts of the face fly have rough, spiny teeth which can damage the eye tissue of cattle. [More]
- Annual economic losses due to face fly infestations are estimated to exceed $123 million. [More]
Horn Fly
The horn fly, Haematobia irritans
- Horn flies are small biting flies about half the size of house and stable flies. [More]
- The economic losses from horn flies cost the North American cattle industry over $1 billion per year.2 [More]
1 McNeal & Campbell (©1981)
2 http://www.csress.usda.gov/nea/biotech/pdf/highlights_2002_no3.pdf