What are Stable Flies?
Stable Flies are also known as "biting flies", "biting house flies" and "dog flies".
The name "stable fly" originates from the fact that these flies were historically prevalent in areas where animals were housed over winter, in places like stables. But don't be fooled!
They are difficult to distinguish from house flies, with the main difference being that a stable fly has a proboscis (bayonet-like mouth) protruding from the front of its head.
This is what it uses to draw blood from mammals and is what causes its victim pain!
The Stable Fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) has been in Australia for over 100 years and is a pest that is associated with human activities (ie. it needs our activities to thrive.) Stable Fly requires blood from mainly biting horses and cattle, but also humans, dogs and pigs for its breeding cycle. It then lays its eggs in rotting vegetable matter or manure mixes, where the maggots feed and develop. Then the new flies head for water and animals to keep the cycle going.
The Stable Fly Bite
Imagine being bitten by ten mosquitoes in the same spot, at the same time. That's the bite of a Stable Fly digging for blood. This is real pain that our pets and livestock endure. If you've been bitten yourself, this probably comes as no surprise.
What Can I Do?
ENSURE YOU ARE DOING
THE RIGHT THING
Whether you are growing vegetables, crops, cattle or sheep, or simply have some pets who produce manure attractive to stable flies, you can keep on top of your property maintenance and general housekeeping to ensure that there are no stockpiles or watered areas of rotting vegetable and/or manure that could be contributing to the breeding cycle of this pest.
JOIN SFAG
Keep up to date with the issues surrounding Stable Flies and support the group that is making this issue front and centre with the local and state government authorities responsible.
SFAG keeps up with the latest research findings and is a great resource available to all, to assist in addressing issues as they arise. If you find stable fly breeding on your property, we are the best resource to help you combat this.
By joining us, we can keep you updated on all that is happening in this space PLUS the higher our membership numbers, the more strength we have in our voice to government and stakeholders.
REPORT STABLE FLY ATTACKS
In order to be able to combat this pest, we need to know where it is.
By reporting when you, your family, your pets or your livestock are being attacked by Stable Flies, it helps the authorities to track down the source of the outbreaks and leads to the cleanup of future breeding sites.
In response to issues that arose in 2020 and 2021, SFAG developed its own reporting system to allow us to maintain our own statistics when the My Pest Reporter app seemed to be broken. The good news is that DPIRD have updated My Pest Reporter and we are able to connect the data from the two systems. It doesn't matter which way you report your suffering, it just matters that you report!
via SFAG
Stable Flies Love...
Rotting Organic Matter
The longer vegetable waste stays on the ground, the better they like it.
Market gardens make a fabulous breeding site when waste vegetable matter is layered and watered for them.
Best breeding ground!
Stable Flies also like
Rotting vegetables and hay, particularly when it is mixed with manure! Poultry manure is particularly attractive as a breeding ground.
Please make sure to keep on top of this on your property. By simply spreading and drying out any waste, you can avoid having any stable fly breeding at home.
Water too
Stable Flies will gravitate towards water sources and anything that is coloured white. Anecdotal evidence suggests dressing your horses up in zebra costumes (rugs) does actually help!
Who are we?
The Stable Fly Action Group (SFAG) is made up of people who have been, and continue to be, affected by Stable Flies. We are all volunteers who work hard to keep this pest on EVERYONE's radar!
Our aim is to develop strategies to minimise the impact of stable (biting) flies.
Stable flies have been identified as an ever-increasing menace in Perth's outer metropolitan shires for over 25 years.
SFAG works towards keeping abreast of the current science and legislation, supporting those who are being impacted in their business and/or lifestyles by this pest, and keeping the issue in front of our politicians and DPIRD.
Stable Fly Action Group
Achievements to Date
Media & Public Awareness
A general public release and media version have been circulated to raise awareness, emphasise the biosecurity threat, and push for stronger regulation. These include recent findings, and calls for action.
Policy & Legislation
We continue to press for:
- Enforcement of irrigation and manure handling standards
- Reforms to the Stable Fly Management Plan (SFMP2019) for improved compliance and penalties
- A simplified and mandatory waybill system for raw manure transport
Review of SFMP2019
- SFAG has submitted detailed feedback to DPIRD
- We’ve outlined gaps in enforcement, reporting, and local government support
- Outcomes of the review are pending; we are monitoring closely
- No estimated date of finalisation has been provided to SFAG by DPIRD
Local Government Support
- Ongoing communication with affected shires, including Shire of Dandaragan, which is now applying to be included in SFMP2025
- Reinforcement of the need for dedicated seasonal officers
- Sharing of data, mapping, and outbreak reports
Stable Flies will feed on the blood of ANY mammals.
Humans, Horses, Cattle, Sheep and many more...
What Can I Do?
Join SFAG...
Supporting the group and contributing through annual membership of $30, not only supports the work and promotion of the work being done, it also adds a powerful message to those who can do something about this problem.
Individually, we can moan, together we can roar!