Stable Fly Management and Plan

The latest Stable Fly Management Plan has been released. You Can read the full document here: https://vegetableswa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Amended-2019-Stable-Fly-Management-Plan.pdf

Stable Flies: Protecting Your Community Against the Painful Biting Fly

As a vegetable grower in Western Australia, you may not be aware of the significant problems caused by stable flies that have an enormous impact on your surrounding community.

Below is a brief description of the problem and solutions, but please see the attachments below for more comprehensive information:

FAQ and
Management Strategies for Vegetable Growers to control stable fly

What are stable flies, and why are they a problem?

Stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) is a blood-feeding parasitic filth fly that target host animals including people and their pets, as well as cattle, sheep and horses.

Unlike mosquitoes, which inject saliva containing anaesthetic compounds that numb the skin to avoid detection, the stable fly gets its blood feed by tearing the skin to create a pool of blood. This aggressive feeding method causes significant pain and distress to their hosts, especially when there are many flies biting the host animal at once.

Your community needs your help

Stable flies breed where vegetable waste and reject produce rot into the soil. Once the adult fly emerges from its pupae and digs its way through the soil, it flies up to 20 km in search of a blood feed.

How can I help?

For the benefit of your community, please always use the following control measures even if you cannot see signs of stable fly breeding.

Turn off water immediately after harvest to allow waste material and the soil to dry out,
Spread the waste organic material thinly to allow it to dry in the sun. Please Note: if the waste material is large and still in the soil (i.e. celery stumps and stalks), it will need high speed mulching or chipping.
Bury organic waste and cover with 1 meter of soil.
Use insecticides:If you are unable to use the solutions above, or if you see stable fly larvae or pupae, insecticides must be used to kill the larvae and pupae to prevent the adult from emerging from the soil.

Managing stable flies is an ongoing process that requires using a combination of good biosecurity hygiene and control measures. By implementing best practice, you can protect your community from the harm caused by these horrible flies.