Birds, bees, blossoms and … drain flies. It must be spring!
The mornings are crisp, the afternoons sunny, the birds are twittering, the bees are going about their business amongst the blossoms, and the gardens are alive with life and colour.
Ah spring, a time so beautiful and yet a time of real dread. It’s high season for two things in particular: allergies and pests.
There’s one pest in particular, often dismissed by many householders and property owners as a stowaway from the garden, when in reality it’s home is not amongst the blossoms or roses, but the organic matter that coats pipes and drains, or decomposing organic materials within the spaces we live and work; known as the Drain Fly or Sewer Fly.
There is a biological solution to deal with these tiny pests (small in size, but not in quantity). First let’s get to know our enemy, and remember they are symptomatic of a bigger, often hidden problem.
Drain Fly Habitat
Organic waste in kitchens
Your drain pipes provide the perfect home for drain fly larvae, the immature form of the insect. Larvae find the goop that forms on the inside of your drain pipes (sink and floor) particularly inviting, but are also quite at home in waste compactor units, bin storage areas and grease traps; pretty much wherever there is decaying organic matter. Once drain fly larvae mature into fully grown flies, you’ll find the tiny flies buzzing around sinks, washrooms, showers and drains.
What do Drain Flies look like?
Drain fly body
Drain flies look like small moths. Long grey hairs cover their bodies and wings, which are large in comparison. Drain flies are small (<2mm). They are known by a number of names including sewer flies, bathroom flies, moth flies, and gnats. Despite their large wings, drain flies aren’t strong fliers; they can cover only an area of a few feet when they take to air.
The life cycle of Drain Flies
The adult flies that emerge from the pupae are fully mature, can reproduce and starts lay eggs after emerging. Up to 200 eggs are laid by the drain fly females, and hatch within 48 hours. They are most active at night, and you guessed it, their favourite time of year is spring through into summer.
Are they disease carriers?
Prevention is always better than cure. Drain flies can carry bacteria on their bodies simply because they feed on decaying food and organic matter. When they land on a surface, they can, and do leave bacteria behind. Eliminate their habitat, and you’re well on the way to eliminating the problem. In addition, nobody wants to see small insects hovering around kitchens, washrooms, and garbage collection points. It leaves a bad impression about the cleanliness of the area.
There is a solution
Why is it that people want to reach for the chemicals and drain cleaners? Throwing toxic chemicals at pests and infestations is no longer acceptable because it creates a range of other, unintended, environmental and health problems.
Consider a biological solution made up of non-harmful micro-organisms that liquefy fats and grease.
Just a couple of products will get straight to the source by eliminating drain fly habitat. They are:
Drain Fly scale
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