Typical grain feed mixtures can attract various bugs.
Horse feed can attract many kinds of insects if not properly stored. The feed can even carry hitch-hiking bugs from the fields where the grain or grasses were grown. When the safety of the health of your horse is at stake, it helps to know who the enemy is. There are some types of herbal pesticide that can help control the problem, without harming your horse. Does this Spark an idea?
Blister Beetles
There are more than a hundred varieties of the blister beetles, depending on the region in which you live. They can grow to about an inch long and are usually narrow bodied with wide heads. This beetle is toxic due to a defensive secretion, and is commonly found feeding on alfalfa and a large variety of other crops and plants. Care should be used not to handle them, because the toxin can cause blister damage to the skin and possible infection. Symptoms of ingestion by your horse include colicky behavior and frequent urination of blood. If not treated for this poison, the effect could be fatal, so the horse should be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Moths and larval insects
Another common problem insect is the moth. Moths come in many sizes and colors. They can be difficult to get rid of, and most horse owners suggest not using mothballs, which can be toxic to your animals when stored near food. Larval insects can easily ruin a bag of feed, and can be difficult to get rid of once they have a foothold, even if the feed is replaced.
Storage
Horse feed should be stored in an airtight environment, such as a clean garbage can with a lid, refrigerator unit or something similar. The longer you store feed, the more likely it will be to go bad or get infested, so it is wise to only buy what you know you will use in a reasonable time frame. Old feed should not be left at the bottom of the bin when putting new feed in, as it will rot from moisture, age and pressure. It should also be kept in as cool of an area as possible, for freshness, and to discourage the insects from laying eggs.
Controlling the bugs
When attempting to control the bugs, you want to use all-natural products that are not harmful to your animals. Citronella should not be used, because it actually attracts insects. A widely used product is diatomaceous earth, which is a food-grade product made from powdered, fossilized shells. It absorbs moisture quickly, and will kill exoskeletons that come in contact with it, without harming you or your animals.
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