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Drain Flies
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Tiny flies that breed in organic gunk in sewers and
drains -
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Summary:
Drain flies are tiny dark flies that may suddenly
appear in kitchens and bathrooms. Drain fly
larvae develop in the gelatinous gunk that forms
inside drains and or other stagnant water sources.
Cleaning away this gunk from household drains will
eliminate the flies. no other treatment is needed.
Jack
DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext.
Entomologist (ret.)
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Drain flies/moth flies
These tiny (~1/10") dark colored flies
are sometimes common in homes near bathroom or
kitchen drains. The flies are harmless but can be
nuisance if present in large numbers. Drain fly
larvae develop in the gelatinous organic slime
("black gunk") that often accumulates in drains. The
flies can also be common around cold-composted compost
bins.
Drain flies, also called moth
flies because of the moth-like scales that
cover their wings (see photo right), belong to the
fly family Psychodidae. A related fly in this same
family, called the sand fly, is responsible
for transmitting the disease Leishmaniasis.
Leishmaniasis not occur in the US.
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Drain or moth fly
(1/10"-1/5"). Notice long antennae
which are characteristic of primitive flies
like mosquitoes and midges.
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Does bleach control drain flies?
The best and safest way to control drain
flies is to remove the gelatinous, often black, "gunk"
that builds up in drains. This is the material on
which drain fly larvae develop.
Drains can be cleaned with a brush or
one of the new enzyme/bacterial drain cleaners.
It is not necessary to apply insecticides or bleach to
control flies, in fact bleach and insecticides don't
work very well. Once the drains are cleaned of
the gunk layer the flies will go away.
Drain flies can also develop in the
slimy, organic material that often forms around leaky
pipes or, outdoors around sewage ponds. If these flies
are found indoors after all drains have been cleaned
it may indicate a leaky pipe somewhere, perhaps under
the house.
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Drain cleaners and drain fly control
Clogged drains should be cleared
with a chemical drain cleaner such as the old standby
Drano (tm) because the new enzyme/bacterial drain
cleaners won't work on clogs. Instead, the new
enzyme-based/biodegradable products are intended to
remove only the gelatinous film that the flies develop
on. Use these cleaners several
times a year in all drains to keep ahead of
the gunk buildup. Drain cleaner gels and other
supplies for managing drain flies can be found here (DoMyOwn.com, our affiliate).
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