Some claim that mixtures of certain essential oils — including peppermint, citronella and lavender — will drive deer flies and other insects away from your home.
But a new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that the combination of these oils may actually increase the risk of Lyme disease, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick, according to a news release from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The study was conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in Bethesda, Md.
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What are deer fly attracted to?
During the day, female horse flies and deer flies are active. The flies are attracted to movement, shiny surfaces, carbon dioxide, and warmth. Once on a host, they use their knife-like mouthparts to slice the skin and feed on the blood pooling in the body.
The larvae of the horse fly are about the size of a grain of rice and can live for up to a year. They are not harmful to humans, but they can be a nuisance to livestock.
What is a natural predator for deer flies?
The flies are abundant in damp, wooded or wetlands due to the fact that they are aquatic, feeding on small insects and pupating in the mud at the edge of the water. Birds such as eagles, owls and vultures are some of the natural predators of deer flies. The most common of these diseases is the disease of adult flies.
This disease is caused by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) – Check the list below
- Which is found in corn
- Soybeans
- Canola
- Alfalfa
- Wheat
- Barley
- Oats
- Rice
- Sorghum
- Sugar beets
- Other crops
Bt has been used for over 50 years to control corn and soybean pests, but it has also been linked to a number of other diseases, including West Nile Virus (WNV) in humans and the spread of dengue fever in animals.
Can I spray for deer flies?
Deer flies can be repelled with permethrin aerosol. Treatments will last for a couple of hours if you spray down your clothing the morning of the day. If you don’t want to spray, you can use a DEET-based insect repellent, such as Permethrin, which is available at most drug stores.
Do dryer sheets repel deer flies?
Some outdoor enthusiasts that the strong, soapy scent of dryer sheets will ward off deer flies and horse flies. Some people rub the sheets on their skin, while others put the sheets under their clothes. “It’s a great way to get rid of flies,” said John Hensley, who has been using the product for more than 20 years. “You don’t have to worry about them getting on your clothes or your skin.
Does bug spray keep deer flies away?
Those of us who are plagued by deer flies have probably noticed that mosquito repellents don’t seem to work against deer flies. Tabanids don’t use scent to find their hosts, the main reason for this failure. Anything that looks like a deer fly is key in on by them.
What oil keeps deer flies away?
If you want to deter deer flies, apply essential oil lavender to the bridle path or ears and along the mane. Put a little on yourself and rub it on the deer. The deer will not be able to see you, but they will be less likely to attack you.
If you want to make your own deer repellent, you can use the following ingredients: 1/2 cup of lavender essential oil (or 1/4 tsp. of tea tree oil) diluted 1:1 with 1-1.5 cups of water. Leave on for a few minutes and then wash off with warm water and soap. You can also use a spray bottle to apply it to your hair and scalp.
