Adult drain flies, Psychoda spp., can be seen resting on the walls of bathrooms, building exteriors, and showers near larval habitats.
Adults are little, heavily-haired, Broad-bodied flies with a body length of less than 5 mm (1/4 inch). The fly’s wings are frequently covered with hairs or scales, giving them a “fuzzy” look.
They are not good flyers and prefer to move by crawling on walls or other surfaces. They only travel a few feet at a time and fly in a jerky line when they do fly.
Adults may be drawn to lights at night. These flies are widespread in shaded areas near water and may be seen in huge numbers on thick vegetation in swampland.
Territory:
The drain fly Psychoda alternata has expanded from its native North America to western Asia, Europe, and South America, with reports of its foundation in Iraq. The entire genus Psychoda’s distribution is difficult to characterize. As a result, we have included the known range of one species native to North America, the drain fly.
Damages caused by Moth Flies/Drain Flies:
Drain flies, also known as filter flies, moth flies, and sewage gnats, are pests that cause problems. Adult flies can be observed sitting on kitchen, bathroom, and basement walls. The larvae consume damp decomposing organic materials, bacteria, algae, and fungus.
Life history and habits:
Larvae of drain flies thrive and feed in filthy, shallow water or excessively wet organic particles. In the bacterial muck, slime, or gelatinous film that commonly accumulates on drains and overflow pipes walls, eggs, larvae, and pupae can be detected. In damp conditions, larvae feed on decomposing organic waste, bacterial films, algae, and silt. Larvae develop in 9 to 15 days and are thought to be part of the organisms that help clean sewage and break down garbage. Pupae appear in or on the surface of the breeding medium, and new adults emerge 20 to 40 hours later. Adults may consume floral nectar as well as dirty water. Most activity happens in the evening, when these flies may be spotted buzzing around drains and sinks.
