Fly Control

How to Get Rid of Flies Naturally

IPM for Livestock, Horses, Poultry & Home

Flies are a common challenge anywhere animals, manure, or organic waste are present. Left unmanaged, fly populations can build quickly and become difficult to control.

The most effective long-term solution is an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach that targets flies where they reproduce. By focusing on breeding areas and early life stages, you can reduce fly pressure naturally over time.

What Causes Fly Problems?

Most pest flies develop in moist organic materials such as:

• Manure
• Soiled bedding
• Spilled feed
• Compost and decaying plant matter

These environments provide ideal conditions fly infestations.

Common Filth-Breeding Flies

Fly Wranglers and beneficial nematodes target filth flies that develop in manure and organic waste, including:

• House flies – Common around livestock and facilities
• Stable flies – Biting flies that affect animal comfort
• Horn flies – Found primarily on pastured cattle
• Face flies – Cluster around eyes and facial areas of livestock
• Lesser house flies – Often found in poultry environments
• Other filth-breeding flies – Including species associated with decomposing organic matter

Flies Not Controlled by Fly Wranglers

Some flies do not breed in manure and require different control methods:

• Horse flies & deer flies – Develop in wet or marshy soil
• Mosquitoes – Breed in standing water
• Biting midges & black flies – Associated with aquatic environments
• Targeting the correct breeding habitat is key to effective control.

Understanding the Fly Life Cycle

All flies go through four stages:

• Egg – Laid in moist organic material
• Larva (maggot) – Feeds and develops in the breeding site
• Pupa – Transitional stage before becoming an adult
• Adult – Mobile stage responsible for reproduction

Effective fly control focuses on the larval and pupal stages, before adult flies emerge and spread.

Biological Fly Control

Fly Wranglers (Fly Parasites)

Fly Wranglers are tiny beneficial insects that target the pupal stage of flies.

• Seek out fly pupae in manure and organic material
• Prevent adult flies from emerging
• Stay near breeding areas
• Non-stinging and safe for use around animals
• They work continuously as part of a seasonal fly management program.

Beneficial Nematodes

Beneficial nematodes are microscopic organisms that target fly larvae in moist environments.

• Applied as a soil or manure drench
• Help manage developing larvae
• Perform best in damp, organic conditions
• Using nematodes alongside Fly Wranglers helps target multiple stages of the fly life cycle.

Build a Complete Fly Control Program

The most effective approach combines multiple strategies:

• Sanitation and moisture control
• Biological control (Fly Wranglers + nematodes)
• Physical traps for adult flies
• Consistent application throughout the season

This integrated approach helps reduce fly populations over time while supporting a cleaner, more comfortable environment.

When to Start

For best results:

• Begin early in the warm season
• Apply consistently every 3–4 weeks
• Focus on breeding areas rather than adult flies
• Maintain regular sanitation practices
• Consistency is key to long-term success.

Cultural (Sanitation) Control

Sanitation is one of the most important parts of any fly management program.

Helpful practices include:

• Removing manure regularly
• Managing moisture in bedding and waste areas
• Cleaning up spilled feed
• Maintaining compost and storage areas properly
• Reducing breeding conditions helps limit fly development at the source.

Physical Fly Control

Physical tools help reduce adult fly populations and are often used alongside biological methods.

Common options include:

• Outdoor fly traps to draw flies away from key areas
• Window traps for indoor spaces
• Hanging traps for barns, doorways, and work areas

These tools help lower visible fly activity.