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Sewer moth fly
Sometimes in the house you can observe the appearance of small flies that look like small butterflies. They grow in places where there is high humidity . Most often this is a bathroom, toilet, kitchen. In apartment buildings and private buildings, they can also be found in basements and other similar poorly ventilated places where excess moisture accumulates. These are butterflies, or sewer flies .
These insects do not pose a direct threat to human health and life . However, their appearance is still annoying. With strong reproduction, butterflies form a whole swarm. They fill the living space, clinging to the ceiling and walls above their habitat. What kind of insects are these, why they appear in the house and how to get rid of the butterfly , we will tell you in this article.
What kind of fly is the sewer butterfly?
Butterflies are the closest relatives of mosquitoes - small dipterous blood-sucking insects. However, unlike them, butterflies do not feed on blood. They are herbivores . They prefer rotting plant remains, accumulations of bacteria and microscopic fungi. From this point of view, they are much less harmful than their carnivorous relatives, who are capable of transmitting pathogens of serious diseases. Therefore, as a rule, they are not classified as dangerous insect species .
Butterfly photo from the side
However, they are still annoying. What do these winged arthropods look like? Outwardly they are very attractive. Miniature, up to 4 mm in size, tiny “butterflies” . They have characteristic oval wings that are large for their size. Body color is dark, grayish-brown. Sometimes graphite black.
The entire body of butterflies is heavily hairy , which increases their resemblance to moths. The legs are thick and short. On the head there are long, clearly visible, feathery antennae. In general, unlike many other insects, they do not look repulsive. Quite cute midges.
Is sewer midge dangerous?
It is worth understanding that these insects are inhabitants of a completely non-sterile clean environment. They can sit on sewer pipes, waste, and then fly to the dinner table and climb on food.
Therefore, the risk of infection by dangerous bacteria will always be present. In addition, due to their small size, they can be swallowed or eaten along with food, and they can fly into the nose and eyes.
These small insects also serve as food for larger insects. Therefore, such a nutrient medium will attract large flies, spiders and other pests into the house.
There are cases where sewer flies have caused allergic reactions in people. Of course, you need to get rid of them and take the most effective methods of struggle.
Where do sewer flies live?
Butterflies that appear in human homes are synanthropic insect species. This means that the most favorable conditions for their life are created next to people. Basically, two conditions are important for sewer moths - humidity and organic debris on which they feed. Reduced illumination up to complete darkness (as in basements) and cool air are welcome. That is why the massive and active appearance of these insects can be observed, as a rule, in the off-season .
Butterflies in apartments breed most often in drains or in clogged places with constant humidity . Therefore, their appearance often indicates a violation of sanitary and hygienic standards in the home. This is what you need to pay attention to first in case of their invasion.
Causes of sewer flies
Butterflies breed in damp and warm places: in basements, attics, in bathrooms, showers, and toilets. If most insects suffer from increased dampness, then for flies it is vital.
Another condition for their existence is still, moist air. Often, butterflies appear in rooms where air exchange is disrupted: moisture vapor accumulates, and there is not enough fresh air. They can be found especially often in bathrooms, where they penetrate through openings in sewer pipes and along water risers.
Butterflies usually do not scatter throughout the premises, but settle near the site of infection. They are attracted to trash cans, clogged drains in sinks, and accumulation of moisture in various places. It is not uncommon to see flies in flower pots as they love moist soil. Sometimes they are mistaken for food or ordinary moths, the larvae of which gnaw cereals or spoil clothes. But this is not true, flies do not touch clothes and interior items.
Butterflies reproduce intensively in warm conditions, where food is available. Sensing the smell of food, insects crawl into the food. Therefore, where sewer flies appear, products should be kept closed.
Insects do not suck blood and do not attack people, but they pose another danger:
- From the sinks they move to the kitchen table and crawl on the food there. There are a lot of germs and dirt on their body and paws, which they contaminate food with.
- Butterflies live in colonies that nest on walls and ceilings. It is dangerous to bathe a child in a bathroom with too many sewer flies - insects can fly into his eyes or mouth.
- Spiders and other nasty insects feed on butterflies and their larvae. They also appear in an apartment where there are flies.
- Insect infestations cause an allergic reaction in some people.
How do butterflies develop?
Adult insects may not feed. However, the larvae need decaying remains of plant organic matter . They can be found in abundance in sewers and other similar places. There, the adult insects lay their eggs, which hatch into tiny larvae after a couple of days . Within a week, the worm-like larva turns into a miniature fly. After another two weeks, the insect reaches an adult state in which it is capable of producing its own offspring.
Thus, in just over three weeks, sewer flies go through the entire development cycle and turn from eggs into sexually mature individuals. At the same time, butterflies are quite prolific. One clutch of eggs can contain up to 100 young . Of course, not all of them survive to adulthood. However, those who do survive are enough to quickly increase their population if this is not resisted.
Adult butterflies are usually quite lazy . They don't fly much. And if they do fly, it is for very short distances. They mostly sit on walls near their breeding sites.
How to get rid of a butterfly?
Butterflies in the bathroom or kitchen are the first sign of clogged drains. Therefore , the first thing to do in this case is to clean the pipes . It doesn’t matter how – mechanically using a plunger or using chemicals. Both methods allow you to remove butterfly larvae from their habitats.
Adult insects can be easily gotten rid of with any insecticidal aerosol or simply by killing them mechanically. Both highly toxic products such as dichlorvos and specially designed aerosols against mosquitoes and other flying insects (Mosquitol, Raptor and others) are suitable as a spray. It is quite appropriate here to use plates and fumigators, as well as mosquito coils .
In any case, it is important not to be indoors at this time . Especially when using highly toxic drugs. Upon returning home, the space should be well ventilated. When using fumigators to destroy butterflies, it is not necessary to leave your home. However, windows must be open for adequate air circulation and ventilation.
All this is true both for residential premises and for basements or outbuildings. Such measures may be enough to get rid of butterflies. However, if the infestation of insects is very strong or you do not want to deal with their removal yourself, then contact our disinfection service “Nymphadez” . We will quickly resolve this problem.
Dangerous neighbors: drain flies
Who would argue, sewerage is a great benefit and convenience. But today we will talk about the dangers that contaminated sewer pipes pose in places where sewer cleaning has not been carried out for a long time. Let's talk about such an unpleasant neighborhood as sewer flies (they are also called drain flies). Publications that these cute little animals, along with giant cockroaches and rats, have densely settled in the sewers of China and Thailand, are of little consolation. If only because we don’t live in Thailand...
Sewer flies
You can distinguish a sewer fly from a fruit fly by their, so to speak, preferences. The fruit fly is tempted by the smells of leftover food, fruits (especially fermented ones), and juices. The sewer fly loves moist places and drain holes. Especially if there is a tempting smell coming from there. The danger of these insects is that a person can accidentally inhale them along with the air. Therefore, it is imperative to get rid of them.
If you get down to business correctly and choose effective preventive measures, then you can get rid of such an unpleasant neighborhood quite quickly. What do these malicious insects look like? The size of the sewer fly is less than 2 mm, the body is fleecy, which is why it looks “fluffy”. The wings of adults are leaf-shaped. An insect can be recognized both by its appearance and by its behavioral characteristics. Their peak activity occurs in the evening. During the daytime, drain flies are not particularly active and settle on the walls. These insects do not fly very well, so they settle in houses closer to humans.
The lifespan of such flies is short: only weeks. The fly lays its larvae in a septic tank or drainpipe. It is in the sewer that the fly goes through the larval and pupa stages. An adult insect is unusually fertile, laying from 30 to 100 eggs at a time.
What is their danger?
Human infection occurs through food. Insects land on food. The risk is especially great if the sink and table are located nearby. While in an infected area, flies carry a huge number of harmful microorganisms on their legs. It can also be ordinary particles of dirt, which is not very pleasant.
Such a neighborhood is especially undesirable for children. Firstly, there is the risk of infectious diseases. Secondly, the insect can get into the baby's mouth or nose. Small drain flies are unfortunately part of the food chain. They feed on waste, and they themselves are food for larger “animals”: large flies, spiders, etc. Such a menagerie in the house will not make you happy, will it? Finally, drain flies are often sources of allergic reactions. They do not bite, like bumblebees, bees or wasps, but chitin and their waste products are quite capable of triggering allergies.
How to get rid
To free your home from harmful insects, you must first understand what is most attractive to them. These include trash cans overflowing with food waste and dirty kitchen or bathroom drains. They love sewer flies and indoor plants: they are attracted to moist soil. This means that the prevention is, in general, simple: regular sewer cleaning. It is advisable to clean sewer pipes monthly, especially for older houses.
Algorithm for getting rid of flies
First, determine the source of their appearance. It is clear that this is presumably a drain hole in the same kitchen. Place some tape close to the drain overnight. If in the morning the flies stuck to the tape, then you have correctly identified where they came from.
The next stage is mechanical cleaning of the drain pipe with a metal brush or plumbing cable. This is necessary in order to free the inner surface of the pipes from rotting organic residues. After this, pour water heated to a boil down the drain. 3-4 liters of boiling water is enough. It will destroy the eggs and larvae of flies. Next, fill in the pipe cleaning chemical. Deal with the remaining adult insects using a fly swatter.
Review of products to combat drain fly
So, here are the most popular and effective drugs that will destroy the fly as a class.
BEAPCO 6-Pack Drop-Ins Fruit Fly Traps
This drug is designed for fruit flies. Practice shows that their drain “cousins” also die for their sweet souls. There are six traps in total. According to the manufacturers, one such trap is enough for a month. Thus, the set is enough for six months. Fifteen dollars per set is a very reasonable price. Inside there is a bait that is safe for human health. A nice bonus is that midges and mosquitoes get caught in the trap. It’s clear: this beast has nothing to do in human habitation. Some buyers complain that the plastic of the trap is not of high enough quality: if you accidentally drop it, it will break. However, this is natural. Plastic is not a high-strength alloy.
TERRO Fruit Fly Trap T2500
Externally, this device is a realistic imitation of a ripe apple. This suggests that the trap was designed for fruit flies. But drain flies do not disdain fruit juice. Therefore, they are tempted by the appetizing appearance of the “Trojan apple”. The principle of operation is the same as that of the traps just described. Inside there is bait that is safe for humans, and flies can be caught literally in flocks. The device also has a drawback. If there are small children in the family, then they need to be explained that the “apple” cannot be picked up, much less bited or licked.
Invade Bio Drain Gel
This product helps fight flies very effectively. Pour the gel into the drain hole according to the instructions, and in a short time you will forget about the problem. Don't forget about safety rules. The gel is not dangerous for humans, but contact with the surface of the skin is undesirable. Work only with protective gloves. In addition to citrus oil, which gives the gel a pleasant smell, the product contains beneficial bacteria that help fight organic matter and unpleasant odors. It turns out that the product destroys the nutrient medium for the larvae, and they simply die of hunger.
Drain Gel
This drug equally successfully destroys larvae and adult insects. At the same time, it cleans out organic matter inside the pipes. It does not have a pleasant citrus aroma, like the previous product, but it does an excellent job of fighting off foreign odors. Among the advantages, users note the economical use of the drug. In addition, this remedy is an excellent prevention against the reappearance of drain flies. Add it to the sink monthly - you won’t know any grief. Poisons and sprays These substances may be needed if the drain fly does not want to give up its position, becomes impudent and active. Poison or spray helps folk and store remedies in the battle with a small enemy. They go great with them. Gentrol Aerosol Insect
Growth Regulator ZOE1005
This is a universal remedy that, in addition to drain and fruit flies, helps fight ants, bugs, midges and other “uninvited guests.” The main advantage of this product is its ability to get into the smallest cracks and cracks. Therefore, insects have no chance to survive. The product has a chemical composition that deprives flies of the ability to reproduce. In addition to adult insects, spray foam also destroys larvae. So our “little friends” will receive a fitting rebuff.
Bac-A-Zap Odor Eliminator
A liquid drug that is sold in bottles equipped with spray nozzles. This is a kind of cross between a draining gel and an aerosol. In addition to disinfection and destruction of adult insects and their larvae, the product also cleans organic deposits. At the same time, there is both a cosmetic (elimination of foreign odors) and a preventive effect. Of course, the “killing power” is not the same as that of gels, but its versatility is beyond praise.
Useful tips for killing drain flies
Try to start fighting insects right away, before the “case gets worse.” Flies do not fly very well, so they will not physically have time to spread throughout all the rooms. Clean the pipes with a wire brush. Relying only on chemicals is, at a minimum, naive. There is no way to do without mechanical cleaning. It is also advisable to use a special plumbing cable. After you have done everything possible to free the inner surfaces of the pipes from the larvae, you will have to fight with adult flies for about 2-3 weeks. Here is a fly swatter to help. Try to keep food in special containers that are hermetically sealed.
By doing this, you deprive fruit and drain flies of their food supply. After high air temperatures, free access to food is an important factor in the successful breeding of flies. It also happens that you have used all possible and even impossible means, but the “animals” continue to fly, like birds. This means only one thing: you are not dealing with sewer flies, but with fruit flies. Their habitat is much more extensive.
To get rid of drain flies, chemicals and traps are clearly not enough. An event such as thorough cleaning of sewers and drain pipes is also required. If you think this is too difficult, hire the services of a professional plumber. We hope that by gleaning the necessary information from the article, you will gain useful skills.
Prevention measures
In the case of the fight against sewer moths, preventive measures play an important role. Getting rid of a butterfly is not that difficult. It is much more difficult to prevent its re-settlement and reproduction . And to do this, it is necessary to eliminate the causes that contribute to its appearance and create favorable conditions for the life of these insects.
What do we have to do:
. Both mechanical and chemical methods are suitable.
Clean drains regularly and promptly- Do not allow water to stagnate and dampness to form on any surfaces . Immediately remove excess moisture.
- Fix water leaks and plumbing problems in a timely manner.
- Install fine-mesh mesh on the ventilation openings to prevent butterflies from entering from basements, neighbors, etc. It is recommended to do this to protect not only from butterflies. Such measures greatly help to avoid the invasion of cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas, mosquitoes and other unpleasant insects traveling through ventilation.
- Cracks in walls and floors must be repaired . Again, this helps create difficult conditions for survival not only for butterflies, but also for many other much more dangerous parasites.
- It is important that the room is sufficiently heated, ventilated and dried . At all costs, you should avoid high humidity in places where moisture can accumulate.
- Maintain cleanliness and order in the house , eliminating with cleaning agents possible accumulations of plant organic matter in hard-to-reach areas, especially those exposed to water.
On the one hand, they are another unpleasant side effect of high humidity and a signal that proper control measures need to be taken. On the other hand, sewer moths can also feed on this mold. Therefore, in any case, you need to get rid of mold. And as quickly as possible.
Get rid of mold and mildew.
Following these simple rules will allow you to permanently get rid of the butterfly in the house and prevent its reappearance.
Other articles on the topic:
– How to protect yourself from mold: causes and habitats
– Elimination of odors with dry fog
– Mold removal: do it yourself or turn to professionals?
– What is disinfestation? Types of disinfestation.
Useful tips
Many housewives use the bathroom to wash fruits and vegetables. It’s better not to do this, because even the slightest piece of fruit remaining after washing will inevitably rot, thereby attracting midges.
You can hang adhesive tape in the bathroom. For a large concentration of midges, it is not a hindrance, but if they have appeared recently and the number of individuals is small, this tool will help catch the insects before they reproduce.
Dichlorvos odorless Neo 600 ml
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time killing insects, you can use regular dichlorvos. It is advisable to do this on a day off, when the whole family has the opportunity to go for a long walk. Treat and close the bathroom tightly, after returning, ventilate and thoroughly wash the surfaces with a cleaning product.
This is how, using simple tips, choosing the right product and following standard rules for cleaning premises, you can prevent the appearance of unpleasant domestic insects. Knowing how to deal with them, you can quickly get rid of such a neighborhood if they have already appeared, without putting in much effort. The main thing is to begin a merciless fight as soon as at least one midge is discovered. This ensures that the bathroom is always clean, free of flying or crawling insects.
