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Drain Fly

Picture
Drain flies sometimes appear suddenly and mysteriously, becoming a nuisance in both homes and sewage disposal plants. 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 nose of people in the area. Bronchial asthma can be caused by inhaling fragments and dust of dead flies. Since these flies originate in filthy conditions, there is the possibility of human health disease transmission.
 
Appearance
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 hairs. The antennae are long (13 segments), with each segment having a "bulbous swelling" with a whorl of long hairs. Wings, appearing too large for the body, are held roof-like over the body when at rest, giving a mothlike appearance. They are weak fliers and make irregular, hesitating flights covering only a few feet in short, jerky lines. Eggs are tiny, brown or cream-colored and are laid in irregular masses of 10 to 200. Larvae are legless, about 3/8 inch long, wormlike and gray, with both ends somewhat darker. The life cycle can be completed in one to three weeks. Adults live about two weeks, with old ones dying and new ones emerging
 
Life Cycle
Drain flies reproduce in polluted, shallow water or highly moist organic solids. The eggs, larvae and pupae can be found in the muck, slime, or gelatinous film often accumulating on the sides of drains and overflow pipes in homes, or in sewage disposal beds, septic tanks and moist compost. They have also been found in dirty garbage containers, rain barrels and tree holes. Eggs, which can hatch in 32 to 48 hours at 70 degrees F, are laid in and on the moist media.
 
Habitat
Larvae feed on the decaying organic matter, microorganisms, algae and sediment in the media. Larvae mature in 9 to 15 days and are considered valuable organisms along with the organic film in purifying sewage water. Larvae live in the organic film, breathing through tubes and feeding on sediment, decaying vegetation, along with microscopic plants and animals in filters at sewage plants. Pupae occur in or on the surface of the breeding media and, after 20 to 40 hours, new adults emerge. 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. They may breed in large numbers at sewage filter plants and then may be carried by prevailing wind to nearby homes up to a mile away. Adults are small enough to pass through ordinary window screening.
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  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Employment
  • Login
  • Services
    • Pest Control >
      • Residential Pest Control
      • Multi Dwelling Pest Control
      • Commercial Pest Control
      • Restaurant Pest Control
      • Rodent Program
      • Flea Control Program
      • German Roach Program
      • Fire Ant Services
      • Fly Control
      • Spider Protection
      • Pest Control FAQs
    • Termite Control >
      • Termite Protection
      • Termite Damage
      • Termite Retreatment
      • WDIR Inspections
      • TERMIDOR Website >
        • Termidor Injection System
      • Termite Control FAQs
    • Mosquito Control >
      • Mosquito Protection
    • Wipe Out Bugs Program
    • FEMA Trailers
  • Pricing
    • Residential Pest Control Pricing
    • Termite Protection Pricing
    • Mosquito Control Pricing
    • Commercial Pest Control Pricing
    • Wipe Out Bugs Pricing
  • Get Educated
    • Facts About Swarming Termites
    • Did You Know?
    • Helpful Tips
    • Identify Your Pest
    • Kids Corner
    • Teacher's Aids
  • Get Blue Star
    • Before You Hire A PCO
    • Why Hire Blue Star?
    • Why Not Do It Yourself?
    • Anybody Can Be Cheaper
    • Testimonials
  • Pest Information
    • Ants >
      • Argentine Ant
      • Black Ant
      • Crazy Ant
      • Fire Ant
      • Odorous Ant
      • Pharaoh Ant
    • Bed Bugs
    • Bees
    • Flies
    • Mites
    • Roaches >
      • American Roach
      • Asian Roach
      • Brown Banded
      • German Roach
      • Oriental Roach
      • Smokey Brown Roach
    • Rodents
    • Spiders >
      • Black Widow
      • Brown Recluse
    • Termites >
      • Damp Wood Termite
      • Dry Wood Termite
      • Eastern Subterranean Termite
      • Formosan Termite
  • Service Areas
    • Baton Rouge
    • Covington
    • Denham Springs
    • Gonzales
    • Gretna
    • Hammond
    • Harvey
    • Kenner
    • LaPlace
    • Luling
    • Mandeville
    • Marrero
    • Metairie
    • New Orleans
    • Slidell