A WET winter has resulted in perfect conditions for stable flies, which are known for their painful bite to humans and animals – particularly pets, horses and cattle.
The stable fly bites humans, domestic pets and livestock to draw blood which is essential to complete its life cycle.
Now as the weather warms up numbers are set to rise prompting a warning for horticulture growers, livestock owners and residents north and south of Perth to take action to minimise the impact of the declared pest.
The City of Wanneroo and the Shire of Gingin are among the 14 local governments where stable fly is a declared pest.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is supporting local governments to work with landholders to remove stable fly breeding environments and reduce the pest’s population.
The department has been training local government environmental health inspectors in the shires of Gingin, Chittering and Capel, where stable flies can be prevalent.
DPIRD invasive species policy manager Tory Weir has called on residents and businesses on the Swan Coastal Plain to take action to reduce the impact of the pest this summer.
“Stable fly management is a shared responsibility and we must all play our role in reducing the risk of this nasty fly,” she said.
“It is important for vegetable growers to bury crop residues and reject produce immediately to prevent breeding sites from being established.
Stable flies can cause a nasty bite to humans and animals alike. Picture: DPIRD“Livestock producers and horse owners can help by cleaning animal enclosures daily and covering animal feed and bedding waste with a fly-proof cover to keep it completely dry.
“It’s best not to feed waste vegetables to livestock – unless in a trough or box to prevent mixing with the soil and don’t forget to clean up spilt grain promptly.
“These simple measures will help reduce the stable fly population.”
Under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 regulations are in place to manage the pest across the 14 designated local government areas from Capel to Chittering and west to the areas along the Swan Coastal Plain.
The stable fly management plan 2019 outlines industry’s obligations under the Act to reduce the risk of the pest breeding, which is available on the department’s website.
DPIRD’s online resources about stable fly for landholders and animal owners to help reduce the risk of stable flies, include control measures, surveillance advice and a factsheet.
Primary producers and the general public are encouraged to report stable flies agitating horses and livestock or biting humans and pets via DPIRD’s MyPestGuide Reporter app or calling the pest and disease information service on 9368 3080.
