Application Tips
“My grandkids and their puppies are having a lot more fun not being bothered
with flies thanks to Fly Predators.” Jack H. Michigan City, MS Grandson
Hayden shown with Jake
Nothing could be easier. Just sprinkle Fly Predators out of their sealed see-through
shipping pouch near all locations where there is or was dog poop and other pest
fly breeding areas. With kennels this is often the drainage areas, with a backyard
dog it's the where they do their business. In a few minutes you've done your fly
control for the month. Fly Predators ship in the immature stage, inside a pupa (cocoon)
which looks like a black rice kernel. A few days after arrival they'll begin to
emerge and that's when you release them. Fly Predators will not fly to, crawl on
or otherwise bother you.
While Fly Predators stop pest flies from reproducing, they do not affect existing
adult flies. So you can't expect a fly free environment immediately following the
first release if you start after flies are already present. Adult pest flies must
either live out their short 21 day life span or be removed by supplemental methods
of fly control compatible with Fly Predators. These include traps, sticky paper,
bait. Complete instructions as well as a handy guide to controlling flies and other
pesky flying insects found around animals are included with your first shipment
and also available at spalding-labs.com.
Recommended Coverage
Over the past decades we've found that these quantities of Fly Predators every three
to four weeks provides excellent control for most dog situations. However, the number
of Fly Predators needed varies not only with the number of dogs, but also the size
and condition of the property, the weather, the severity of the existing fly problem
and the number of neighboring animals within a ¼ mile radius if those locations
have poor fly control.
A pest fly can easily go a ¼ mile, sometimes much further. The best solution is
to have everyone with animals within this distance use Fly Predators. In that case,
no one will be bothered by flies. We have many neighborhood groups who order enough
Fly Predators for all of their properties together. We will gladly pack each neighbor's
Fly Predators in separate pouches of at least 5,000 each at no extra cost. In the
case of the grumpy neighbor that won't participate, buying a few extra Fly Predators
for their animals often costs remarkably little more.
“Before Fly Predators the flies were awful. Now we see maybe three a day.”
Kathleen G. Scio, OR
Start Regular Releases Early
Keep in mind that it is much easier to PREVENT a buildup of pest flies than it is
to rid yourself of them once they have multiplied to intolerable levels. It's best
to start when the daytime highs get into the 60F's. This is BEFORE the first flies
begin to appear. Then continue with Fly Predator shipments every three to four weeks
stopping a month before the temperature drops down into the low 60's.
If you start after the pest flies have built up to high levels, an initial shipment
of two to three times the normal Fly Predator quantity will be needed to get control
of the pest fly population as quickly as possible.
Helping Your Fly Predator Program
From the standpoint of fly control, the goal of good manure management is to minimize
the available suitable breeding area. Flies need a moist medium to successfully
reproduce, so removing all dog poop quickly helps. If it can't be removed, putting
it on a composting pile raises the temperature of all but the outer few inches too
high for fly larva. For the same reason, if you've had much more rain than normal,
then additional Fly Predators may be required for a few shipments.
Our recommended quantities assume a reasonable job of kennel waste management. If
it's poor then more Fly Predators will be needed, but control is usually possible.
For dogs that are ranging over many acres or for severe fly problem situations,
additional quantities likely will be needed.
Please call our Question Line if you have any unusual requirements,
1-888-880-1579