FAQ’s
Only available in English:
Attention!!!
Note that the H-trap comes with a green funnel. This color offers the advantage that it does not reflect UV-A light emitted by the sun. Some species such as bees and bumblebees pick up the UV-A reflected light. The reflected UV-A light is closely associated with foodstuff for these species. As a result, they will travel over great distances to land on these UV-A reflected surfaces.
To avoid that these useful insects get – accidently – caught in the H-trap, the color of the funnel has been chosen to exclude that it offers any attraction potential to these useful insects.
Installation
Inflating the ball need to be done with the handpump added in the package.
The max pressure for the ball is 0.1 Bar. DON’T USE A COMPRESSOR to inflate.
The H-trap needs to be installed at close vicinity to horses. Horse flies see the infrared signature coming from horses from a big distance. If a choice has to be made by them, they will prefer to travel to a large group of potential victims (the horses), rather than going to one isolated victim (the H-trap)
Placement of the H-trap nearby the drinking area of your horses is often a good location. If this location is not an option – or simply not applicable – then use the general rules of siting, as described here below.
Pending on temperature the horse flies will come out of the ground from Early spring (European situation: from April onwards) The female horse flies will than immediately start looking for blood, this to fertilize the next batch of eggs. It is important that we have the H-trap in position before this starts happening. This way we will not only catch the horse flies, but also a good amount of potential horse flies, which will become a pest in the next year(s).
At the end of the season, typically late autumn, the horse flies will start to extinct. Cold temperatures and age are the cause of this. By that time the H-trap can be broken down. We recommend to clean it and store it indoors.
The H-trap will have no effect indoors. We will need the sun, to create a temperature difference between the surroundings and the black ball – funnel combination. Indoors the black ball will not be heated up and no temperature difference will be created under the funnel.
Because of this horse flies will not be able to see the H-trap
Try to identify those places were horse flies in rest are located and place the H-trap in an interception course between there place in rest and your horses.
- Always place the H-trap in the open area, ideally in direct sun and away from shadow areas. This way the black ball gets warmer and will emit more infrared energy. This makes the trap more attracting for horse flies.
- Horse flies in rest can typically be found in the lower branches of trees. This way they protect themselves from sunlight and have a good view into their surroundings. Water is essential for horse flies; this is the area were they often can be found. Here they lay their eggs. Once their larvae’s come out of their eggs they will need humid soil. This is the typical place where they will find their host in which they will parasite for appr. a year: Worms.
When the H-trap is used to control horse flies nearby horses we recommend to place one H-trap with a maximum of 5 horses. Horse flies cannot see the difference between the H-trap and a horse. With a maximum of 5 horses we still have multiple chances a week to get the horse flies in the trap, and therefore built up a good control curve over time. Within a week one will then be able to see a noticeable reduction of the horse flies in the area.
Maintenance
A periodic emptying of the collect bin is recommended once every week / 2 weeks. Once a month one should check if the ball needs an additional inflation. For this the enclosed pump can be used.
General
The H-trap is weather proof and storm proof. Needless to say that it will not withstand extreme weather and wind conditions, such as a hurricane.
We have carried out destructive tests, this to explore the relation between the size of the ball
(the pressure of the ball) and its strength at given temperatures.
We have used an ambient temperature outside
the funnel of 35 degrees Celsius as measuring level.
At this tempature the inflation of the ball will give problems.
The ball will increase because the heat inside, especially with this temperature.
Increasing of the ball will result in deflating.
The solution:
Inflate the ball to a diameter of 520mm / 20,5 inch and there will be no problem.
This corresponds with a pressure of around 0,05 to 0,1 bar.
When the H-trap is used to control horse flies nearby horses we recommend to place one H-trap with a maximum of 5 horses. Horse flies cannot see the difference between the H-trap and a horse. With a maximum of 5 horses we still have multiple chances a week to get the horse flies in the trap, and therefore built up a good control curve over time. Within a week one will then be able to see a noticeable reduction of the horse flies in the area.
Pending on temperature the horse flies will come out of the ground from Early spring (European situation: from April onwards) The female horse flies will than immediately start looking for blood, this to fertilize the next batch of eggs. It is important that we have the H-trap in position before this starts happening. This way we will not only catch the horse flies, but also a good amount of potential horse flies, which will become a pest in the next year(s)
The principle is only attractive to those insects that are attracted by infrared temperature (most flying insects can see ultraviolet light, not infrared light) These insects, typically blood sucking insects, will be attracted by the H-trap.
If you still have any other or new questions, don’t wait, just ask.
Where? hygiene@alcochem.comHey, FAQ’s. FAQ’s.