Oddly-Shaped Pupae Found in Black Mold and Drains in Texas

Share the knowledge

Odd-looking, black organisms have been found by this reader in Ft. Worth, Texas. The organisms in question are being found in an area of her home that is moist and heavy with black mold, as well as near drains.

Firstly, we wish to thank our reader for the excellent photographs she sent in. Not only did we get some amazing close-ups like the one seen above, but our reader also sent a photo where one can see the organism next to our reader’s hand, for size comparison. This gives us a better understanding of how big this thing really is. Secondly, our reader suspects that these are diptera (fly) larvae or pupae, but we do not think that is what these are. Whilst we do think this is a pupa of some sorts, given the apparent hardness of the organism’s ‘skin’ (which in this case would be the chrysalis), we do not think it is a diptera fly. Diptera pupae are far more consistent in their shape, being smoother and visibly segmented. They also tend to be a light brown, rather than the black color we see here.

Unfortunately, we are not sure exactly what species this pupa belongs to. The inconsistent ridges along the body, as well as the hairs sprouting from it make it a confusing case for sure. Given that these organisms have been found near moisture, mold and drains, our first guess would be that these were drain fly pupae, but they do not resemble drain fly pupae either, so that puts a hole in that theory.

What we can do is recommend to our reader a solution. First of all, if she is experiencing black mold growing in her home, this is something that needs to be rectified immediately, as it can be cause for multiple health problems for the residents of that home. Plus, it can clearly attract creatures as well that might wish to feed on this decaying organic matter. There are ways to do this yourself, but usually one will contact someone to do it professionally to ensure it is done properly and the mold does not return. Secondly, if there are worms appearing in or around her drains, our reader should clean those drains as soon as possible. And it is not enough to do it once, because the worms can just come back. Consistent cleaning of drains is imperative to eradicating, as well as to preventing, infestations of drain flies, bloodworms, and other creatures that could crawl up one’s drain in search of food.

To conclude, we are uncertain as to the identity of these creatures, though we would insist that they are pupae. This makes the eradication of the infestation easier for our reader, as pupae are immobile, and moving them should not prove difficult at all. If any of our other readers have any ideas as to what these organisms might be, please feel free to put your suggestion in a comment below.

 

All About Worms is always free, always reader-supported. Your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP Publishing.

CashApp us Square Cash app link

Venmo us Venmo link

Paypal us Paypal link

Note: Some links on this site are partner links. That means that we earn a tiny bit if you purchase something through them, at no extra charge to you. This helps offset the cost of keeping this resource free for everybody (it doesn't cover our costs, but every little bit helps! :~) )
Summary
Oddly-Shaped Pupae Found in Black Mold and Drains in Texas
Article Name
Oddly-Shaped Pupae Found in Black Mold and Drains in Texas
Description
Odd-looking, black organisms have been found by this reader in Ft. Worth, Texas. The organisms in question are being found in an area of her home that is moist and heavy with black mold, as well as near drains.
Author

Share the knowledge

Author: Worm Researcher Anton

2 thoughts on “Oddly-Shaped Pupae Found in Black Mold and Drains in Texas

  1. Omg! I have these too! I am 20 west of Fort Worth. It is good to know that they are actually something like I have suspected. I seem to be the only one bothered by water damage in out house.

    1. Hi Charity, I am in Canada and trying to do some research relating to water damage, molds, and insects tied to the two. Would you be willing to email me at v_******@ho*****.com to tell me some of the symptoms you are experiencing relating to the water damage you mentioned?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *