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Tips 'n Info Battling Those Pesky Insects
By Cathy Spalding Spring gifts us with a vast array of re-appearances. The seemingly lifeless shrubs and trees begin to harmoniously blend in vibrant shades of green. Blooms appear where there had been only darkness. Life emerges with vigor from the silent earth and stillness of harsher times. Birds arrive and begin building homes. Slugs and snails once again become readily visible. Spring also marks to arrival of those pesky summer insects – most notably – flies, mosquitoes and those hard to see little biting bugs. Each year the camelid community revisits numerous ideas and practices in an attempt to mitigate and control the insect onslaught. Some prefer the use of chemical sprays. Others are partial to the introduction of insect predators. Still others prefer a homeopathic approach. No matter our preferences, the earlier we begin addressing the issue, the better the results. Following are a variety of thoughts and ideas. Perhaps one will be just the solution you were looking for. While I have tried some of these suggestions with great success, I have not personally experimented with every single one. And, I do not promote nor endorse any particular remedy. I can only vouch that each suggestion was said to work very well by the one who suggested it! Fly Predators can be ordered from a number of sources. Each offers a schedule and number of suggested predators based on how many animals and how much area is to be covered. Quality Llama Products – also offers repellants and traps Spalding Laboratories ValleyVet BioLOGICAL Fly Control There is a pyrethin-based product called Pyranha. Pyrethrums come from chrysanthemums. Pyranha is said to last a long time and does not have a heavy smell. Warnings state you should not drink it or get it into your eyes. Further information on Pyranha can be found at: www.pyranhainc.com Using flytraps can capture hundreds of flies. To be most effective, traps must be placed in the sun and contain a stinky bait. The stink is definitely a draw back to this otherwise quite effective method. Flytraps can be purchased through most camelid vendors as well as local farm and supply stores. Most farm and supply stores offer an assortment of equine fly repellants that can be directly applied on the animal. It is important to investigate that any of those products are indeed safe for alpacas and llamas. Some products are not recommended for use on a pregnant animal. Some folks swear that their insect population has significantly dwindled by inviting swallows, western bluebirds and purple martins to take up residence. They have placed numerous birdhouses around their property specific to the particular bird and are excited when they become inhabited. They have also reported a resulting dramatic drop in their insect population. Purification is a commercial brand of therapeutic grade essential oils. It is said to work for flies, gnats, ticks and fleas. The blend contains citronella, lemongrass, rosemary, melaleuca, lavender and myrtle. It is also said to be a great choice for cleansing wounds and drawing out toxins. Supershield Green by Absorbine is an all-natural insect repellant. Lemongrass Insect Lotion by Burt’s Bee’s seems to last all day. The ingredients for this lotion are grape oil seed, lemongrass oil, citronella oil, vitamin E and rosemary oil. Avon Skin So Soft comes in a spray on oil. Rubbing Bounce fabric softener sheets on exposed areas such as the nose and ears has met with success over the course of a day. Following are a number of homemade fly spray recipes. Each is slightly different. Some are comprised solely of natural ingredients. Some are a combination. They are listed in no particular order -- #1: This spray is said to last all day and can be “sweetened” by adding a few drops of lavender. 4 oz. Skin So Soft from Avon 1 oz. Citronella oil – health food grade ½ oz. Eucalyptus oil 1 T vanilla 12 oz. Cider vinegar 12 oz. Water #2: ¼ cup of Dawn dish soap 1 and ½ cup vinegar 1 capful of Skin So Soft Mix with one quart of water and it is ready to spray #3: 2 T of eucalyptus oil 2 T of Skin So Soft Mix with one quart of water and it is ready to spray #4: 10 drops each of good quality pennyroyal and citronella ¼ cup of almond oil a few drops of glycerin Can be used in this mixture or added to water. You must keep shaking the mixture if added with water. #5: 2 tsp tea tree oil 2 tsp liquid vitamin E 4 oz of regular Desitin Mix together. It will be the consistency of honey. It is said to work well on those insect irritated bare spots most commonly seen on the ears and nose. Some folks swear by additives to the diet. An “old” horse remedy advocates adding apple cider vinegar into the water source. (It is said that white vinegar will have the same result.) It might take a short time for the alpacas and llamas to adjust to the taste but within three weeks; the number of flies on the animals should have lessened significantly. Fresh garlic seems to have the ability to change our smell and taste and insects tend to avoid it. Fresh garlic is also considered an excellent antibiotic. The complete B-Complex is said to also have the ability to change our smell and taste. There are many thoughts and ideas on how best to address insect control. It is important to find what works best for you and your own herd management… and get started. Everything is in bloom… including the insect population.
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