Horses, Bugs and Beetles Fact Sheet 6

Horses: Bugs & BeetlesSustainable ways to keep your horse www.horsesa.asn.au


Horses, Bugs & BeetlesFact Sheet 6. Pests of horses: an integrated management approach


No 1: Integrating horse care

No 2: Managing small horse properties

No 3: Dung beetles and their benefits

No 4: Gut parasites of horses

No 5: Pests of horse pastures

No 6: Reducing external parasites of horses

No 7: Management of horse manure

No 8: Threats to dung beetles

The Horses: Bugs & Beetles project has produced eight fact sheets for horse owners

This presentation is based on Fact Sheet 6Pests of horses: an integrated management approach



Does my horse have lice?

Lice are large enough to see with the naked eye

When lifting the forelock or parting hair, lice will be seen scurrying away from the light

Lice eggs can be seen on the ends of hair

Horses may be itchy, perhaps losing weight or showing signs of anemia



Regularly give horses a full inspection for external pests

In Australia, sucking lice and biting lice can infect horsesEggs are laid on the ends of hair

Adult lice can only live a few days away from the horse, eggs can live much longerNew horses should be isolated until known to be clear of pests & parasites



Treatment for lice

Follow instructions for use of a commercial lice treatment product to thoroughly wash the horse, after using a fine comb to remove eggs

Any eggs groomed from a horse need to be collected and burnt or sealed in a bag and thoughtfully discarded

All living areas, equipment, tack, feed utensils, fences etc. should be treated

The horse and all equipment will need a second treatment two weeks later

If the infected horse has contact with other horses, all will need to be treated.



Flies

There are five different types of flies that bother horses in Australia

• Stable flies

• March flies

• Mosquitoes

• Midges

• Buffalo flies

Midges and Buffalo flies do not bother horses in Southern Australia.



Stable flies & March flies

Stable flies bite horses and suck bloodFemale flies lay eggs in damp organic matter such as manure heapsStable flies are the vector of the Stomach worm in horsesBreak the life-cycle of the stable fly and stomach worms in horses are reduced

March flies also suck blood from horsesFemale flies lay eggs in damp soil or rotting logs where the larvae are predators of small invertebrates



Mosquitoes

Thirty two species of mosquitoes are common in South Australia. Only 6 are a pest to stock and people.

Mosquitoes can transmit viruses to horses, including Kunjin and Ross River

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant or brackish water in warmer seasons

Protect horses through appropriate rugs and coverings, maintaining stable yard & trough hygiene and removal of potential breeding sites

Photo: Steff Wilson



Bot flies

The bot is the larvae of the bot fly

The adult fly lays eggs on the hairs of the horse or around the face and eyes

Larvae ends up in the horse’s mouth through licking or migrates through the skin to the mouth tissues

Eventually larvae migrate to the stomach before eventually passing out through the horse’s dung

The larvae burrows into the ground and forms into pupae

Adults emerge from the pupae in the warmer months completing the life cycle

Bot fly egg laid on the end of horse hair



Manage stable yard pests

Regularly inspect horses

Promote biodiversity. Birds, lizards, small bats and fish etc. eat larvae or flies

Maintain stable yard hygiene including manure & stagnant water management

Use fly traps (remember to site away from your horse as they contain fly attractants)

Use repellants

Use chemicals sparingly to avoid resistance, contamination of water courses and killing off “good” bugs and beetles.



Introduce and maintain your dung beetle population

Dung beetles are an effective biological control for the infective stages of horse gut worms and dung-breeding flies (by breaking the life- cycles)

De-worm horses with mectin based drugs e.g. moxidectin, and at times when dung beetles are not active on your property

Check manure is not containing dung beetle activity before removing it



How to find out more to help you manage a horse property

Contact your local Natural Resources Management (NRM) office who will be able to assist with free advice

Many NRM groups conduct field days, educational courses or will come out to your property for a free visit


Horses, Bugs & Beetles Fact Sheets 1 – 8 download from www.horsesa.asn.au

Horses, Bugs and Beetles Fact Sheet 6

Education

Transcript of Horses, Bugs and Beetles Fact Sheet 6