How to Trap Horse Flies

Protect yourself and your horse from nasty horse fly bites.

The best defense against horse flies is to kill them with attractive bait traps. An effective horse fly trap prevents females from laying eggs and biting, ultimately reducing the horse fly population and protecting you and your animals from harmful bites.

1. Remove the cap off a 2-liter soda bottle and throw it away. Cut the plastic bottle approximately four inches below the neck of the bottle. Use box cutters to carefully cut the bottle.

2. Turn the upper portion of the bottle upside down so the mouth of the bottle is pointing down. Insert the upper portion into the lower portion so it forms a sort of funnel into the rest of the bottle.

3. Pierce four holes through the top of the horse fly trap about one inch below the top. Space the holes evenly apart to go around the entire top.



4. Thread a length of about two feet of twine through each hole. Knot the twine near the hole to secure both portions of the bottle together. Bring the four ends together above the center of the bottle and secure them with a knot. This knot also serves as the hanger for your horse fly trap.



5. Pour two cups of water into a bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup of white sugar and 1/2 cup of white vinegar until the sugar is dissolved. Add the vinegar and sugar horse fly bait to the trap. Hang the trap in your barn or other area where horse flies are prevalent.