Striped, Worm-like Creature in Bathroom is a Drain Fly Larva

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Ami writes to us about a segmented, black and gray worm-like creature (pictured below) that she found in her bathroom. She writes that she is “not able to figure” out what the worm is. “Please help.” Based on the location of the creature’s discovery, as well as its physical appearance, we have concluded that Ami found a drain fly larva. These creatures are not harmful to humans or pets whatsoever, but they can be quite the nuisance as they tend to infest bathrooms in large numbers. How this happens is that the adult drain fly (which is often mistaken for a moth given its round and furry body) lays eggs on the organic film that forms on the lip of a drain, where the larvae eventually hatch and begin roaming the bathroom.

The larvae feed on all sorts of organic debris, like faeces, microorganisms, and algae. They typically live in the sewage system, and actually play a big part in cleaning up sewage water. Despite that, they still do not carry harmful bacteria, so Ami does not need to worry about that. Regardless, having worms crawl around one’s bathroom is not a pleasant experience, so Ami will likely want to eliminate the potential infestation as soon as possible. The best way to control and eliminate drain fly larvae infestations is through prevention. Firstly, when it comes to the larva already present in her bathroom, we suggest brushing it onto a dustpan and moving it outside. It will find plenty to eat outside, and should not come back inside the home. Of course, given that a lot of regions are moving toward colder times, it’s possible that it will be tempted back inside by the warmth, so it might be a good idea to move the larva a bit further away than the back yard.

Secondly, keeping one’s drains, bathroom, kitchen and laundry room clean are vital in preventing drain fly infestations. By keeping that organic film from forming in the drains, the adult flies will have nowhere to lay their eggs. Likewise, Ami might want to wipe down the walls around her bathtub, and clean the bathtub itself, just in case there are any other eggs around there that could hatch. Lastly, we should add that drain fly larvae, like many worm-like creatures that show up in or near bodies of water, are attracted to stagnant bodies of water, and will congregate near them, as more sediment and organic debris is likely to form there. So, if there is a bathroom in Ami’s home that is not being used that often, it is not only important to keep it clean, but to run all the taps at least once a week for about a minute.

In conclusion, the striped worm-like creature Ami found is a drain fly larva. Luckily, she only found one, meaning that it’s possible an infestation isn’t going on. That said, it’s not that common to find just one of these in one’s bathroom, so we urge her to be on the lookout and clean her drains, and any room that has drains in them (as well as run the water!). We hope this helps and we wish Ami the very best.

 

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Summary
Striped, Worm-like Creature in Bathroom is a Drain Fly Larva
Article Name
Striped, Worm-like Creature in Bathroom is a Drain Fly Larva
Description
Ami writes to us about a segmented, black and gray worm-like creature (pictured below) that she found in her bathroom. She writes that she is "not able to figure" out what the worm is. "Please help." Based on the location of the creature's discovery, as well as its physical appearance, we have concluded that Ami found a drain fly larva. These creatures are not harmful to humans or pets whatsoever, but they can be quite the nuisance as they tend to infest bathrooms in large numbers. How this happens is that the adult drain fly (which is often mistaken for a moth given its round and furry body) lays eggs on the organic film that forms on the lip of a drain, where the larvae eventually hatch and begin roaming the bathroom.
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Author: Worm Researcher Anton

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