Wondering whether you have drain flies in your home! If so, don’t worry! In this article, not only will you learn what drain flies look like (along with pictures) but you’ll also find out what drain fly larvae and drain fly eggs look like as well!
What Do Drain Flies Look Like?
Adult drain flies are around 1/5 to 1/6 in length with wings that completely cover their bodies when they’re at rest. They can be light tan, grey or black in color. And when you look closely you’ll notice that their bodies are covered in small hairs, which make them look furry.
Even though drain flies have large wings, it’s unlikely you’ll see them flying. They’re poor fliers, so tend to hop or jump from place to place instead of flying.
Lastly, they also have antennae on top of their heads which have 13 segments, each of which is beadlike and full of tiny hairs.
What Do Drain Fly Larvae Look?
Drain fly larvae are the baby versions of normal drain fly. Unlike drain flies though, they don’t look like flies at all. Drain fly larvae, or drain worms tend to be 4 to 10mm in length. As they mature they become more slender with a dark stripe on their dorsal area.
They don’t have any eyes or legs and you may even notice a dark breathing tube that extends out of the film they grow in to obtain air.
What Do Drain Fly Eggs Look Like?
Lastly, you may also be wondering what drain fly eggs look like as well. Drain fly eggs are a lot harder to spot than the other two, however, if you want to try and spot them, you’ll normally see them in groups of between 10-200. The eggs are brown or cream colored too.
Where Are You Likely To Find Drain Flies?
Another way you can be sure you’re dealing with drain flies is based on where you find them. After all, they’ll definitely favor some places in your home over others. So if you notice flies in the following areas, then they could well be drain flies:
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Sump Pumps
- Laundry Rooms
- Crawl Spaces
- Bird Baths
- Compost
- Gutters
And essentially anywhere with water, and decaying matter!
What Can Drain Flies Be Confused With?
However, sometimes, drain flies can be confused with other types of flies as well. The two main flies that drain flies get confused with are fruit flies and fungus gnats.
Fruit Flies
Fruit flies, on the other hand, tend to look a little bit thinner, and their wings are also a lot more clear. However, the biggest way to really spot the difference between the two is in the eyes. While it’s hard to notice a drain fly’s eyes, fruit flies’ eyes are bulbous and red. So look at the eyes to see exactly what you’re dealing with.
Fungus Gnat
Fungus gnats tend to be grayish-black in color, however one difference between them and drain flies is the fact their wings tend to be see-through or at times gray.
They have long legs and long antennae, and unlike drain flies which are a lot more round, fungus gnats tend to look more like mosquitoes.
Size-wise, they can grow up to 1/2 an inch in length, although, it’s more likely that they’ll be /16 to 1/8 of an inch in length.
They’re also attracted to light, so you’ll often tend to see them flying around windows and doors.
Recap
Now you know what drain flies look like, and also what they often get confused with as well! Once you’re certain of what you’re dealing with you can begin to work on getting them out of your home as well!
If you liked this article, make sure you check out the rest of this website! Otherwise, have a great day!
