“I returned from a holiday to find these worms swimming in our toilet”, writes Siobha about the black creatures pictured below. “What are they?” We have to admit that, were it not for the size and color of the worms, as well as the location they were found in, we would not be able to identify these creatures based on the photo and video alone, because the quality is simply not that good. Fortunately, we can make an educated guess based on the aforementioned factors: we think these are drain fly larvae. As their name suggests, drain fly larvae are the immature form of a species of fly that like to infest drains. They are not harmful, but they can be quite a nuisance.

Drain flies lay their eggs on the organic film that naturally forms over time in a drain that is either not used for a long time, not cleaned for a long time, or both. In Siobha’s case, the toilet was clearly not used for a long time as she was on holiday, so the drain flies chose the perfect moment to strike. So, what are they actually doing here? Drain fly larvae feed on the fungi (eg: mold), bacteria, and microorganisms that start to grow in drains and stagnant water when left uncleaned. Similarly, their adult counterparts feed on decomposing organic materials and sewage, so the bathroom is just the perfect feeding ground for these guys. If the infestation is left unchecked, the larvae might spread to the rest of the bathroom and prove to be a real nuisance to get rid of. Fortunately for Siobha, she found all the larvae in one place, which tells us the infestation has not been going on for very long.

The best way to eliminate a drain fly infestation is through the same measures you would use to prevent them in the first place: cleaning. Obviously, Siobha will first want to get rid of the larvae that are already there. We recommend removing them from the toilet and putting them outside, rather than flushing them: they could just resurface if she does this and then the infestation would just continue. After that, cleaning the toilet (and maintaining a regular cleaning schedule) is imperative to keeping drain fly larvae away: so is keeping all the drains clean in a bathroom. If that bathroom is not regularly used, make sure to run the taps and flush the toilet every now and then to prevent the water going stagnant. On top of that, when cleaning the drain, it is important that the organic film is broken, which may take some scrubbing.

In conclusion, the worms Siobha found in her toilet are probably drain fly larvae, though we cannot say with absolute certainty given the poor resolution of the photo and video. We hope this helps, and we wish Siobha the very best.

Summary

Article Name

Worms Swimming in Toilet are Drain Fly Larvae

Description

"I returned from a holiday to find these worms swimming in our toilet", writes Siobha about the black creatures pictured below. "What are they?" We have to admit that, were it not for the size and color of the worms, as well as the location they were found in, we would not be able to identify these creatures based on the photo and video alone, because the quality is simply not that good. Fortunately, we can make an educated guess based on the aforementioned factors: we think these are drain fly larvae. As their name suggests, drain fly larvae are the immature form of a species of fly that like to infest drains. They are not harmful, but they can be quite a nuisance.

Author

Worm Researcher Anton