Drowning in Drain Flies? Get Rid of Them Fast!

 

Have you ever seen flies in your home that are too big to be gnats, but too small to be house flies? You might be experiencing drain flies.

You may not think much of it, but with the ability to lay 300 eggs in just a single day, a few of these little bugs can become several hundred in no time.

You need to get these pesky little flies under control–and quickly.

What are Drain Flies?

As you may have guessed by their name, drain flies are flies that can be found around water sources and organic matter for which their larvae to feed. This is why they are commonly found in places like your kitchen, your bathrooms, and your trash cans.

Sewer lines under your house can also be an attractant for these annoying flies, which is why they are also known as “sewer flies.”

The Life of a Drain Fly

Drain flies go through four stages of life: egg, larve, pupae, and adult.

Drain flies don’t live for longer than a few weeks, but that also means they produce offspring at an accelerated rate. Growing from eggs that are less than 1mm in size, to small brown larvae, to pupae only takes a little over two weeks. However, growing from the pupae stage only takes about a day before they become an adult.

While the male adult drain fly may pass after only a few days, the females live for much longer – living for roughly a week. In this week of life, the female may lay up to 300 eggs, every single day!

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!

As you may have guessed by their name, drain flies are commonly found in areas with moisture.

Drains are what these flies need to not only survive, but to thrive. Your clogged up drains with all of the moisture and organic build up are exactly what drain flies are looking for. Which is exactly how they got their name.

Watch Out for Infestations!

As mentioned before, drain flies can multiply at an alarming rate. By laying up to 300 eggs a day, an infestation of drain flies is almost inevitable once you’ve seen the first signs of these pests in your home.

You might be looking at an impending infestation if you see these signs:

• Flies that look like large gnats on your shower walls, near your drains, or trash cans.
• Small brown larvae in your drains or under the drain covers

Once you see the signs, it can happen quickly, and chances are it’s too late to resolve the issue on your own. Call the professionals for back up as soon as possible!

Getting Rid of Drain Flies

Drain flies have adapted to survive in some pretty hectic conditions. Having furry little bodies have made them nearly waterproof, and protects them from drowning in conditions where some bugs would certainly perish.

You will need to call in the professionals to fully eradicate these annoying little pests, but in the meantime, there are some DIY ways to keep them at bay until the plumber arrives:

• Homemade Fly Traps: A small cup or bowl of vegetable oil with some honey and vinegar is a great way to start catching those pesky little moth-like flies. Once they land in the oil, they are stuck!
• A Good Scrubbing: Cleaning the source of the issue is always one of the best ideas. Give your pipes – inside and out – a good scrub down with a metal pipe brush to get them as clean as you can.
• Empty your trash cans: Start putting your trash in an outside container if at all possible. And make sure to clean up and throw away all old food crumbs, etc., before taking the trash out.
• Baking Soda & Vinegar: Pouring baking soda and vinegar down your drains can help eliminate any organic matter that’s built up, as well as kill any larvae that may be feeding on it.

If you’ve attempted these home remedies and are still seeing your drain fly problem grow, it’s time to call a plumber.

Get Rid of Drain Flies With Bell Brothers

DIY solutions are exactly that–DIY. If you’ve got a drain fly infestation, these solutions are only a temporary fix to a problem that will get worse if not handled with the proper equipment.

Have a plumbing question? Call and speck to Bell Brothers professional today.