“I found this in my bathroom and don’t know what it is”, writes Dainé in her submission regarding the bristly, black worm pictured below. “Could you please help me?” We are, of course, happy to help Dainé identify this creature. Although she does not provide much context, the little that we are provided, coupled with the fantastic photo, is enough for us to identify this organism, which is a drain fly larva. Otherwise known as moth flies, drain flies are commonly considered pests, though we would argue they really are not: they do not damage anything in the home, and they pose no real health threat other than potentially causing asthmatic reactions if an infestation of them is left for too long. Drain flies are attracted to bathrooms which have been left uncleaned or unused for a long time, laying its eggs on the organic film that forms in the lip of drains.

Once hatched, the larvae will swarm over the bathroom in search of food, which for them consists of things that grow on decaying organic matter, like algae, fungi, and bacteria. Even if a bathroom is kept clean, if it is not used drain flies will be attracted to it, because stagnant water is a prime location for these growths to form. For example, guest bathrooms are good targets for drain flies. The best way to combat and eradicate drain fly infestations is through preventative measures. So besides moving the existing larvae outside, deep cleaning the bathroom and maintaining a consistent cleaning regime is paramount to battling and preventing infestations. Make sure to scrub the inside of the drain to remove that organic film. This is the most important part, because without the film the flies have nowhere to lay their eggs. On top of that, making sure to run the water from the taps and flush the toilet every so often in bathrooms that do not get used frequently will help prevent stagnant water.

We are not saying that Dainé is definitely experiencing an infestation. After all, she did only report finding the one larva. But we do urge her to scan her bathroom for any more roaming larvae, as it is somewhat uncommon to just find one. Who knows? She might be lucky! If she does find more, we recommend she implement the preventative measures listed above. If she notices that there is an infestation and it persists even after consistent cleaning, she might want to contact a professional: it could be that something deep in the drain is attracting the flies that is unreachable with common tools and knowledge.

In conclusion, Dainé found a drain fly larva. We hope for her sake that it is a one-off occurrence, but it is better to be safe than sorry and check for more larvae. Drain fly larvae are not dangerous or harmful, but infestations of them are left unchecked, they can become a real nuisance and contribute to the uncleanliness of one’s bathroom and home. We hope this helps, and we wish Dainé the very best.

Summary

Article Name

Black Worm in Bathroom is a Drain Fly Larva

Description

"I found this in my bathroom and don't know what it is", writes Dainé in her submission regarding the bristly, black worm pictured below. "Could you please help me?" We are, of course, happy to help Dainé identify this creature. Although she does not provide much context, the little that we are provided, coupled with the fantastic photo, is enough for us to identify this organism, which is a drain fly larva. Otherwise known as moth flies, drain flies are commonly considered pests, though we would argue they really are not: they do not damage anything in the home, and they pose no real health threat other than potentially causing asthmatic reactions if an infestation of them is left for too long. Drain flies are attracted to bathrooms which have been left uncleaned or unused for a long time, laying its eggs on the organic film that forms in the lip of drains.

Author

Worm Researcher Anton