Feature Two: Drain Flies

EEEEK! What are those small squat-looking flies coming out of my shower drain?
Drain flies sometimes appear suddenly and mysteriously, becoming a nuisance in both homes and commercial buildings.

Who Turned the Lights Out?
Adult flies may become so numerous indoors that they congregate at windows, darken lamp shades at night, fall into food and accumulate around showers, bathtubs, sinks and floor drains, especially in the basement. Outdoors they mar fresh paint and plug sewage filter beds (intakes and drains), getting into the eyes, ears and noses of people in the area. Since these flies originate in filthy conditions, there is always the possibility of human health disease transmission.

Funny Looking Things!
Adult drain flies are tiny (1/5 to 1/6 inch long), fuzzy, dark or grayish insects with the body and wings densely covered with small hairs; they may appear to some people like small moths because of these hairs and so they are also known as moth flies. Wings, appearing too large for the body, are held roof-like over the body when at rest. They are very weak fliers.

Give Me the Pollutions!
Drain flies reproduce in polluted, shallow water or highly moist organic solids. The eggs, larvae (aka maggots) and pupae can be found in the muck, slime, or gelatinous film often accumulating on the sides of drains and overflow pipes in homes, septic tanks and moist compost. They have also been found in dirty garbage containers, rain barrels and tree holes.

Adults live for only about two weeks. They feed on flower nectar and polluted water. During the day, adults rest in shaded areas or on walls near plumbing fixtures and on the sides of showers and tubs. Most activity occurs during the evening when these flies are seen hovering about drains and sinks.

No Biting but a Big Nuisance
Drain flies do not bite humans but may become a nuisance by their presence in large populations. Sometimes it takes persistent effort to eradicate an infestation in the home. Connor’s will concentrate on eliminating larval breeding sites from drains in floors, sinks, wash basins, bathtubs, etc. Often the most effective method is to clean the drain pipes and traps to eliminate the gelatinous rotting, organic matter, thereby eliminating the larval food source.

We also have non-caustic bacterial products that rapidly biodegrade organic matter. Give us a call.