Drain Flies in Isle of Man

Drain flies are a common pest insect in the United Kingdom. Drain flies lay their eggs in drains, sewers and other standing water. They can breed rapidly, which means if you see a couple of adult flies there is likely a lot more eggs. Adult flies will fly out of drains and ordinarily die quickly, but they can become a nuisance inside houses. They do not tend to carry diseases but could contaminate food products.

Drain flies can be identified by their tiny size and dark colour. They are covered in hair which gives them a fluffy look, and in addition they have large wings that they fold above themselves when not in use. Drain flies can be easily confused with fruit flies or other species of flies. Precise identification and location is essential to an effective treatment.

If you suspect you have a drain fly infestation, you can test drains by half covering them with a bit of tape. Leave this for approximately 4 days. If you find flies caught on the tape then the drain is infested. The most effective way to control a drain fly infestation is to get rid of their breeding areas. They like to breed on organic matter that’s caught in clogged drains, and so thorough cleaning of drains is an effective way to remove drain flies. However, proper cleaning of pipes can be extremely unpleasant. Professional pest control companies will be able to identify and locate a drain fly infestation and carry out an effective treatment to control the pests.