Real-time updates on blowfly risk – produced via an ongoing collaboration between Elanco and NADIS (National Animal Disease Information Service) – now show the risk level as remaining “high” across most of the country, with only a couple of areas downgraded to “medium”.

Despite a slight fall in risk levels, the high blowfly population still remains a threat. Frequent reports of blowfly cases continue to be added to the Elanco Blowfly Strike Tracker from across the country.

Richard Wall, Professor of Zoology (Ectoparasite Specialist) and compiler of the Blowfly Risk Alerts, said: “This is probably the most difficult period to accurately forecast blowfly strike risk during the year, because although fly populations remain high, egg laying and maggot survival are highly dependent on the weather.

“If it remains warm through September, risk will remain high, and because many of the treatments applied in early Summer are approaching the end of their period of residual protection, a warm wet autumn can lead to a big increase in strike cases.

“The strike risk should still be viewed as ‘high’ throughout most lowland areas of the UK, but with appropriate note taken of the changing weather.”

Regional Alert breakdown 

• NW Scotland: High
• E Scotland: Medium
• NE England: High
• E Anglia: High
• The Midlands: High
• S England: High
• SW Scotland: High
• NW England: High
• N Wales: Medium
• SW England: High
• S Wales: High
• N Ireland: High

NADIS key:

• Low risk: No significant risk;
• Medium risk: 1 in 2,500 animals might be struck;
• High risk: 1 in 500 animals might be struck;
• Severe risk: 1 in 100 animals might be struck.