H-trap, what is it?

RR products has launched a new selective trap, highly effective against horse flies. Horse flies are a constant nuisance out in the field, particularly in the period May - October. As they feed themselves on blood their aggressive stings are considered as very painful for animals, such as horses and cows, but also for humans. The new trap system, called the H-trap, effectively controls the amount of horse flies and reduces them to an absolute minimum. The  H-trap needs to be placed outdoors and works without the need of chemicals or electricity. Extensive tests have shown that reductions of 90-95% on horse flies in an area around the trap can be realised.

The horse flies will mistakenly see the centrally placed ball in the H-trap as a large animal and move towards this ball. Once they are positioned on this black ball of the H-trap they will investigate the “victim” and try to sting it. After this unsuccessful attempt, they will fly away from the trap. Horse flies are vertical risers, they can only fly upwards. The trap is designed in such a way that via a conical hood system, the flies are guided upwards into a centrally placed collect bin. From this bin they can not escape. The bin needs to be emptied periodically. Innovative and functional.

Why do horse flies sting?

A female horse fly requires a substantial amount off protein to ripen the eggs in the back of the body. For that reason, the female sucks blood. They have a dangerous stingsnout to do so. During the stinging, saliva will be brough into the wound which prevents the blood from coagulating. The itch and swelling is caused by the saliva. The stings can be very painfull.

The activity of the females is strongly influenced by the weather conditions. Horse flies like warmth and they avoid windy conditions which means that they mostly flie when it's warm and there is no wind. When there is a high humidity degree,the rain horse flies displays a strongly increased activity (sultry summer weather). Other types of horse flies seems to follow the same patron, but in lesser degree. Warmth, sultry and calm summer days are topdays for the horse flie and also for the H-trap.

Advantage H-trap 
The H-trap takes care of attracting and capturing which means a reduction of the inconvienence from horse flies. Removing the captured horse flies is easy thanks to the H-trap.

What attracts the horse fly
The H-trap is the endresult, based on a principal writen by the University of Wisconsin and theirs Manning-trap.
In the H-trap de horse flies are attracted by a solar heated boll. The warmth is held by the composition from the material that is used. Thanks to the special reliefsystem this artificial heatsource will be put in motion. The female horse flies detects the heatsource and is drawn to it. 

How many horse flies does the H-trap capture 
The ammount of captured horse flies is dependent of the ammount of horse flies in the area.
During practice test in a pasture located in Arkel, every day ten horse flies are captured. During the summer of 2007, on a topday, a hundred horse flies were cought in a horse stabble. Test that were performed closely at the open water shows a result off thirty to eighty horse flies per trap each day. 
The H-trap is an improved version of all existing systems. The ammount of captured horse flies is dependent of the ammount of horse flies present. Where many horse flies are present, there will be a strong reduction of any inconvienence by horse flies.

How many traps do you need per hectare
Normaly one trap will be placed per hectare "open" grassfield. In area's where there are many three's, grass or there are multiple grounds the ammount of H-trap's needs to be fine tuned.

H-trap, were to install?

Horse flies are commonly found around horse stables and cattle. Also in long humid grass horse flies can be found.

These conditions are typically found at following places: