I've heard to wet them, because that makes then hatch and it seems they remove easier that way. I use a 'bot knife' A curved blade thing with serrrated edges, when that won't do I use a dull bic shaver. Fly spray seems to keep the amount on my horses down.
I hadn't heard anything about the eggs only being shells. I've always read to get them off because they injest them, and the licking or scratching their bodies is how they get them in their mouths where the fluid and warmth make them hatch. Happy bot picking. Laurie and Rascal
----- Original Message -----
From: Irene M Burnett
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2002 8:19 PM
To: AprJhn@xxxxxxxxxxxx; Ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] What I have Learned On RC This Summer
Thank you, April, for reminding us of the good stuff we get off ridecamp.
New inquiry; the bot flies are back!!! So, how do ya'll deal with 'em? I scratched a bunch off my horses' legs with my fingernails (gosh, they are so gross, my fingernails) but he also had them in his mane, yuuuch!! I did not want to pull it all out, but they are extremely sticky, and when I tried to pick them out, his hair came out too. I always use ivermectrin in the fall, after the first frost, to get rid of the bot infestation, but can't stand the little yellow eggs all over his legs and mane, so I try to get rid of them. My farrier said the yellow things are the egg shells; the larvae has already hatched and been injested by the horse, so picking or scraping them off is just cosmetic. I have shaved, used a bot remover cinder block, and my fingers; how about the rest of you? Renie
