Drain Flies

Drain Fly Identification Removal & Control

Drain Flies are one of several species of fly that can and will invade your home if given the opportunity. It gets its name from the fact that it thrives in damp environments such as drains and pipes. This dampness is most necessary during the larval stage of the insect’s development, so this is when it makes the most sense to focus your elimination efforts.

• Drain flies are tiny, only 1/5 to 1/6 inch in length

• Body is dark or grayish in color, and appears “fuzzy” (densely covered with hair)

• Wings appear moth-like and too large for body

• Drain flies fly in a jerky, irregular patterns

• Eggs are brown to cream in color, tiny in size, and laid in masses of 10 to 200

• Antennae are long with 13 segments

Behavior & Habitat

• Drain flies are most active in the evening when they congregate around sinks and drains.

• Moist organic materials--such as the slime that accumulates on the side of bathroom and kitchen drains, sewage disposal beds, rain barrels, and garbage cans-- are the preferred living and breeding grounds of drain flies.

Feeding Habits

• Drain flies feed on moist, organic materials such as decaying vegetation, and other microscopic plants and animals.

Life Cycle

• Eggs planted in moist organic materials may hatch in as little as 32 to 48 hours at 70 degrees F.

• Drain fly larvae reach reproductive maturity in 9 to 15 days.

• Drain flies have a life cycle of 1 to 3 weeks, with adult living about two weeks before dying.

Damage

• Drain flies tend to appear rather mysteriously and suddenly, multiplying quickly and becoming a nuisance by their numbers.

• Drain flies originate in filth, and carry diseases that may possibly be transmitted to humans.

• Drain flies do not bite.

• The presence of drain flies in large numbers may cause or intensify bronchial asthma.

How to Get Rid of Drain Flies:

Simply cleaning out the drain that is affected can have a very beneficial effect on the population of flies, but it is almost never sufficient to completely eradicate the problem. If you’re serious about learning how to get rid of drain flies, you also need to employ a good Drain Fly killer that is approved for use against these pests. One such product is called Invade Hot Spot. There is also a gel that is designed to get deep into drains called DF 5000. Both of these products are very effective at getting rid of Drain Flies.

1. Thoroughly coat inside of all drains with Drain Gel during down time (in a restaurant this would usually be at night) and repeat treatment nightly for one to two weeks. Coupled with good sanitation, this treatment is usually adequate to completely eliminate drain flies.

2. Drain flies rest around the sink area during the day. Placing glue boards around infested drains near fly resting areas will capture most of the adult flies. You can also spray around the drain and sink with a residual aerosol such as Invader HPX. These products can help ease the infestation while the drain gel does its job.

See also: Drain Gel Treatment