Are Drain Flies Harmful? Helpful Facts About The Diseases They Carry
Do you have drain flies in and around your kitchen or somewhere in the interior of your home? In this guide, we walk through what kind of danger you can expect, and how to get rid of them.
Have you ever noticed those little winged insects crawling out of your bathtub drain? Those are drain flies. While they may not be as annoying as cluster flies, these creatures have a very nasty reputation for dwelling in the most unsanitary conditions. That’s why some people would ask if they can be a serious threat to our health.
But is this correct? Are drain flies harmful? They are undoubtedly gross. But, yes, there are some cases where they can actually be harmful.
In this guide, we will walk through all you need to know about these pests, and exactly what why they should be both addressed and prevented. let’s jump in!
What Are Drain Flies?
Drain flies or sewer gnats (Psychodidae) are furry little flies that are found almost anywhere in the world. There are currently 2,600 species discovered worldwide, and most of them prefer to live in humid tropic places. However, in our own homes, we’d mostly see these tiny winged insects in their namesake, inside plumbing drains. You can also spot them in septic tanks, sewage systems and soil with sewage contamination in it.
Psychodidae are very small, only measuring up to 1/8th of an inch or 0.32 cm. They also have various appearances, depending on their species. But generally, they’re often described as moth-like with furry short bodies and hairy wings with vertical lines in them. They have the colors black, grey or brownish grey. And they also sport antennae that have hairs sticking out on their sides, resembling a bunch of little feathers lined together.
Are They Harmful?
Most drain flies don’t carry immediate health hazards to us humans even though they come from places that we wouldn’t want to be near to. However, according to a 2015 study on Psychodidae infestations from Cambridge, there are special recorded cases that pointed to specific species as the main cause or trigger for some diseases. These are myiasis, microfilaria and asthma.
Myiasis
The CDC describes myiasis as a disease that occurs when the body is infested by a parasite, namely fly larvae that need a host to develop. Just like a science fiction movie, the larvae would typically dig into the tissue of their hosts and feed on them, causing painful lumps, burning, itching and even bacterial infection.
While most domestic drain flies don’t have anything to do with this, according to the 2015 study, the species Clogmia albipunctata is an opportunistic agent of this particular disease.
Microfilaria
The Sycorax silacea, is another tropical variation of the common drain fly. It’s a blood feeding fly that’s known to transmit parasitic nematodes. Specifically, Sycorax silacea is a vector of microfilaria.
Microfilaria is an early stage of parasitic Onchocercidae nematodes. These little invaders are microscopic worm-like creatures that thrive inside the bodies of their hosts. They essentially live inside in the tissue or circulatory system. Adult nematodes periodically release their offspring, the microfilariae, into the blood to be picked up by the blood-sucking Sycorax silacea and to be transported into another host.
Having microfilariae in your system is called microfilaraemia. This can lead to fever, pain, and/or extreme swelling in certain areas of the body as well as many other painful symptoms.
Leishmaniasis
Another tropical drain fly, the Phlebotominae, also feeds on blood. Through this, it’s able to transmit tropical diseases, particularly leishmaniasis which is another condition caused by parasites.
Parasites from the Leishmania can enter the body through the fly’s bite. From there, it can be present in one of three ways, via skin ulcers, ulcers in the skin, mouth and nose, or through fever, an enlarged spleen and liver and a low count on red blood cells. Human infections are the work of more than 20 species of Leishmania.
Asthma
While it may sound totally unlikely, these annoying pests can cause bronchial asthma. If they grow in huge numbers, the wind can easily blow them towards houses. Inhaling the dust from these disintegrating small flies can possibly trigger asthmatic reactions.
Getting Rid of Drain Flies
Even though some common variants are not as harmful as the ones that we mentioned, they can still be pretty annoying to deal with. So to help you with that, we’ve gathered a few helpful tips to get rid of these gross flies.
Inspect all possible breeding grounds
Look for potential breeding grounds in your house and in other nearby drains. But while these flies typically spend their time in house drains, it’s also equally possible that they can come from a nearby area that’s polluted, like from another part of a sewer system or from a septic tank.
Use Natural Repellents
We’d recommend using natural solutions whenever possible. Drain flies typically come to an area for a reason, and there are natural ways to deal with it. Like other winged insects, there are several natural remedies you can use. Baking soda is popular not only to use for drain flies, but also fleas, and other insects.
Wrap Up
So are drain flies harmful? Unlike the tropical drain flies, the usual flies that we often see in our homes aren’t that threatening when it comes to our health. They’re not at all deadly. But of course, who wants to live with dirty sewer insects anyway? So for your peace of mind, getting rid of them is still the best option.
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