CHICAGO — Like fuzzy little monsters, drain flies come from the depths of home sewers and can infest any city dwelling.
There is an easy way to keep the drain flies away, said Chino Vargas, who works in pest management at Lincoln Park Zoo.
"The drain flies will go away if you eliminate their food source by using drain cleaners to clear the organic buildup in drains,” Vargas said.
That means any typical drain cleaner from the store. Insecticides aren't needed to tame the insects, which are small flies with heart-shaped wings. They feed on organic material buildup, commonly found in and around drains, Vargas said.
Drain flies are also known as filter flies, sewage flies or moth flies. They are frequently found indoors on windows, sinks and walls, according to Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. The school notes that polluted waters and wet organic materials are preferred breeding areas for the flies, which are about one-tenth-inch long (a third the size of a housefly). The body and wings are covered with long hairs that make the flies appear fuzzy.
Vargas said if one drain fly has found a food source, they will begin to accumulate.
If you don't want the flies around, follow Vargas' advice because this is the time of year they're also laying eggs. The eggs hatch into maggots, which feed on the organic material. Two weeks later, a pupa forms and a fly eventually emerges.
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