Cows painted with zebra-like striping can avoid biting fly attack

Scientists in Japan painted black cows with white zebra-style stripes, some with plain black stripes, and left others unpainted. Then they counted the biting flies on each cow and how often the cows flicked their heads, tails and legs to shoo them away.

The zebra-striped cows had less than half as many flies and did far less tail-swishing. A pesticide-free fly shield that is also an excellent fashion statement.