Tunnel trap
Members of the family, Simuliidae (Diptera) of which there are more than 1,000 known species, are small flies, 1-5 mm in length. The common name, black fly, is somewhat of a misnomer since many species are gray and others are light tan to yellow in color. Adults are typically robust with a characteristic arched or humped prothorax giving rose to the common name,”buffalo gnat”. The family Simuliidae is worldwide in distribution, extending from the tropics to the Arctic Circle. Both sexes feed on the nectar of flowers; only the female requires a blood meal for ovarian development. Although a given species may prefer a particular animal host, most will readily feed upon other host species as well. Black flies attack man and a wide variety of domestic and wild animals and birds; others feed only on cold-blooded animals.
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We organised to have the basic structure welded at a Mullumbimby welding shop. We used galvanized tube and followed the plans issued by the Queensland Government. The trap came in sections that slotted together. We Added the plywood and the traps.
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We used aluminum strips to attach the fly screens. The baffle part assembly took 7 hours.
To effectively reduce fly numbers, all animals in a mob need to pass through the tunnel at least once daily. The best way to achieve this is to have controlled access to water. This could include fencing off troughs or dams. The tunnel can be set up as a permanent structure or as a temporary one. It is best set up in a gateway on a well-drained site. If used as a permanent fixture, it may pay to pour a concrete pad to prevent the development of deep pads.
Where it is impractical to control access to water, an alternative is to use a feed supplement as an attractant and to control access to the feeding station. The tunnel trapping system can be easily adapted to self-mustering (trapping) systems.
Cattle may need to be trained to use the tunnel trap. The tunnel should be assembled in stages to allow the animals to become familiar with using it.
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