Equestrian husbandry & research
The horses live out for most of the year as they are much happier and healthier. We are surrounded by ditches and uncultivated mossland which means that we have a large horsefly population in the summer. When we first moved on to the land in 2005 it was unbearable. The horses could not go out in the summer and if left out they would gallop up and down the paddocks to try to get away from the flies despite the use of fly sheets. After some research a Horsefly trap was purchased and trialled. We counted 300 flies per day were being trapped and given that the females can lay 800-1000 eggs per day this proved to be significant reduction. The trap was so effective at reducing the fly population to a tolerable level that we purchased another three so that the other animals fields could benefit from trapping. The animals also use their shelters a lot during the summer months to get away from the biting insects.
Midges (noseeums) are the other insect prevalent in this area so in an attempt to try to improve conditions two Megacatch traps were purchased. These trap around 4000 midges in a night making use of CO2, octenol attractant and UV light. I would be willing to assist in any projects for any budding entomologists looking for an honours project for their studies given the numbers of traps that I have and the concerns of the appearance of the Schmallenburg virus and Bluetongue virus in our animal industry. The horses are all dressed in Boett type sweet itch rugs during the summer months which keep out the noseeums and prevent the horseflies too.
Midges (noseeums) are the other insect prevalent in this area so in an attempt to try to improve conditions two Megacatch traps were purchased. These trap around 4000 midges in a night making use of CO2, octenol attractant and UV light. I would be willing to assist in any projects for any budding entomologists looking for an honours project for their studies given the numbers of traps that I have and the concerns of the appearance of the Schmallenburg virus and Bluetongue virus in our animal industry. The horses are all dressed in Boett type sweet itch rugs during the summer months which keep out the noseeums and prevent the horseflies too.
