Sasha CampbellHave you ever been on a nice hike or camping trip, only to have it ruined by deer flies buzzing and biting you? Those little bloodsuckers seem to come out of nowhere.
Deer flies can swarm around your head, landing on your arms and neck and biting with their sharp little mouthparts. The bites are also very painful [1].
The good news is that there are some natural ways to control deer flies, so you can get back to enjoying the great outdoors. In this article, we’ll share some easy tips for repelling them using home remedies and natural sprays.
Identification
Deer flies are in the family Tabanidae [2]. They are usually gray to light brown and about 1/4 to 1/3 inch in size.
Deer flies also have colorful eyes, like bright green or gold, and clear wings with dark bands.
They feed on the blood of mammals like deer, horses, and, unfortunately, humans. The females are the ones that bite, using scissor-like jaws to slice into the skin. Their bites hurt and itch.
Deer flies are most active in warm months, especially in humid or wooded areas near water [3].
How to Get Rid of Deer Flies Naturally
To avoid deer flies this summer, stay indoors, wear protective clothing, and use natural repellents.
Below are some other home remedies to keep them at bay:
1. Mow Tall Grasses
Deer flies love to inhabit overgrown, unmaintained areas with tall grass and overgrown vegetation.
To eliminate their prime habitat around your home, mow your lawn regularly and keep the grass cut short.
Tall grass gives deer flies, sand flies, and mosquitoes places to rest and hide. Frequent mowing will disturb them and force them to find shelter elsewhere.
Keeping your yard tidy, free of overgrown areas and debris, also creates an inhospitable environment for deer flies. With fewer places to rest, breed, and hide, deer flies will move on to more suitable habitats.
A little yard work and maintenance goes a long way toward naturally repelling these annoying pests.
2. Limit Moisture in Your Yard
Deer flies often breed in moist soil, muddy areas, and wetland edges rather than clean standing water. Therefore, reducing moisture around your home is key.
Clean out any standing water from pet bowls, gutters, birdbaths, kiddie pools, and other areas. These provide the perfect breeding ground for deer fly larvae.
Also, improve the drainage in your yard. Fix any leaky outdoor faucets or sprinklers.
And if you have a pond or stream on your property, try to eliminate stagnant, standing water along the edges.
By limiting access to standing water and moisture, you’ll remove breeding spots. You’ll make your yard less habitable for these pests and others, such as mosquitoes and horse flies.
3. Essential Oils
Essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender, citronella, and peppermint may help repel deer flies. However, their effectiveness varies. Often, they require reapplication every few hours for continued protection.
After diluting the essential oil in a carrier oil such as jojoba or almond oil, apply it to your skin.
Place it, especially on exposed areas like the neck, arms, and legs. The strong scent will deter deer flies from landing on you.
You can also make a homemade deer fly repellent spray. Just combine 20 drops of an essential oil, like lavender, with four ounces of water in a spray bottle.
Spray it on your skin and clothing before going outside. The refreshing aroma will keep deer flies at bay.
4. Repellent Plants
Plant aromatic herbs like lavender, catnip, basil, rosemary, or mint around outdoor areas where you spend time. Their fragrant compounds naturally repel flies and other insects.
You can also rub fresh or dried herbs onto your skin to make an easy DIY deer fly repellent.
5. Natural Predators
Releasing natural predators of deer flies on your property can help control the population in an eco-friendly way. Some options to consider:
- Dragonflies and damselflies prey on deer fly larvae and adults. Planting flowers such as Joe Pye Weed, black-eyed Susan, and some wildflowers will attract these insects.
- Birds like flycatchers, killdeer, and martins feast on adult deer flies and other small flying insects. Providing birdhouses, bird feeders, and bird baths may invite these birds into your yard.
- Bats are voracious predators of certain insects, such as deer flies. Installing bat houses on your property will give bats roosting spots and encourage them to hunt in your area. A single bat can eat thousands of flying insects each night [4].
- Spiders, frogs, and parasitic wasps also prey on deer fly eggs, larvae, and/or adults.
Providing a habitat for natural predators and releasing them are also organic solutions for controlling deer flies outside.
However, natural predators help reduce overall insect populations, but they are not a reliable standalone method for controlling deer flies.
6. Sticky Traps
Sticky traps are a simple, eco-friendly way to catch and kill deer flies.
Make your own DIY deer fly traps by coating blue index cards, cardboard squares, or plastic lids in a sticky substance like petroleum jelly or a product like Stiky Stuff. Deer flies are often attracted to dark or shiny objects, which helps make sticky traps more effective.
Next, place sticky traps in areas where you’ve noticed flies, such as near pools or in wooded areas.
7. Screen Netting
Screen netting can also keep deer flies away. Buy enough netting to cover doors, windows, porches, or patios where deer flies may enter.
Secure the netting in place and make sure there are no gaps or tears where flies can get in.
8. Stay Still
When deer flies are buzzing around, your instinct may be to swat at them or run away. But that will likely just provoke them to bite. Instead, remain motionless until the fly leaves.
Staying still may reduce attraction, but it does not always prevent bites once deer flies are close [5].
9. Wear Light Colored Clothing
Wear light-colored clothing when you’re outside during deer fly season. As mentioned, these flies are more attracted to dark colors, so wearing lighter shades of clothing will make you less of a target.
Loose-fitting clothes are also better, as deer flies can bite through tight-fitting fabrics more easily. Long-sleeved shirts and pants will also provide an extra layer of protection for your arms and legs.
Wearing appropriate protective clothing is one of the best ways to avoid deer fly bites when outside.
10. Wear a Hat
Wearing a hat is one of the simplest ways to avoid deer fly bites.
Deer flies are also attracted to the top of the head. So covering up with a hat, especially a wide-brimmed style, makes it harder for the flies to land on your head and bite you.
11. BugPellent Fly & Tick Spray
BugPellent Fly is an example of an essential oil-based spray designed to repel horse flies, ticks, deer flies, and other biting insects.
Moreover, it is safe to use on humans, dogs, and other animals. By spraying this natural concoction on yourself, your dogs, and your horses, you create an unpleasant barrier.
This barrier makes the flies look for easier targets instead.
FAQ
When are deer flies most active?
Deer flies are most active in warm weather, especially late spring through summer, during sunny daytime hours.
What attracts deer flies to humans?
They are attracted to movement, body heat, and carbon dioxide from breathing. They are also attracted to dark-colored clothing.
Do deer flies bite at night?
No, deer flies are daytime biters. They are not active at night or in low light.
Where do deer flies breed?
They typically breed in moist soil, wetland edges, marshy areas, and damp vegetation rather than clean standing water.
How long does a deer fly bite last?
Pain and irritation usually last a few hours. However, itching or swelling can sometimes last a couple of days.
What smells repel deer flies?
Strong scents such as citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, and rosemary may help repel them. However, the results can vary.
Can deer flies bite through clothing?
Yes, they can bite through thin or tight-fitting clothing [6]. That is why loose, thick, light-colored clothing offers better protection.
What is the best way to avoid deer fly bites?
Combining methods works best. Wear protective clothing, use repellents, and avoid heavily wooded or marshy areas.
Also, stay as still as possible when they are nearby.
Do deer flies carry disease?
Deer flies can mechanically transmit bacteria, but they are not considered major disease vectors for humans [7].
Why do deer flies bite me more than others?
Deer flies are attracted to movement, body heat, and carbon dioxide, so people who move more or exhale more strongly may be bitten more often.
Takeaway
Give a few of these natural remedies a try and enjoy your time outside, annoyance-free. You’ll be hosting backyard barbecues and going on hikes again in no time.
Sometimes, simple natural solutions can be surprisingly effective when used consistently. The best defense is a good offense, so take action now before deer fly season is in full swing.
Agree with all of these. We have done most of them on our farm.