What’s the difference between a drain fly and a fruit fly?

Drain flies and fruit flies can both be found hovering around in your kitchen, but they look different and live in different environments. Drain flies are fuzzy and resemble a small moth, while fruit flies are more tan and yellow with red eyes. Fruit flies are also attracted to ripe or decaying fruits and vegetables, while drain flies want the dark, moist gunk in your drain.

Are drain fly larvae harmful?

Some reports about drain fly larvae can be very troubling. Some species of drain fly can lay eggs in open sores or wounds in your skin, and the larvae can grow in your skin. This is a condition called myiasis.

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Drain Fly

How to identify and get rid of drain flies

Evicting drain flies from your sink… for good

Finding a swarm of flies hovering above your sink can often be unnerving. Where are they coming from?

Maybe you’ve cleaned up all the spills, put away the fruit bowl, and disinfected the whole kitchen, but those pesky flies are still hanging around! What gives! If you have small, dark-colored flies in and around your sink, then you might have issues with drain flies.

Drain fly maggots love the slimy gunk at the bottom of your sink drains and can quickly become a nuisance in your kitchen or bathroom if they aren’t taken care of.

How to identify drain flies

Drain flies are best identified when they land, where you’ll be able to see their resemblance to tiny moths. However, they are flies, not moths! They will appear fuzzy and hairy at the base of their wings and they typically hold their wings at an angle.

How big are drain flies?

These little guys are only 1/8-1/6 inch long.

Where do drain flies live?

Drain flies are found all over the world and lay their eggs in the slime and muck of sewage drains, sinks, and wet compost. The larvae live in the layer of gelatinous film that forms in the sludge and are resistant to harsh conditions. They feed on the decaying organic matter and bacterial films in their moist habitat.

Sinks and drains in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements are ideal places for drain flies to breed. You may also find them in window areas with excessive moisture.

How to get rid of drain flies

The best way to get rid of drain flies is to remove the breeding site for drain fly larvae. They can quickly grow into adult flies and lay eggs again within a few weeks.

While it may seem like a drain cleaner would be the best solution to remove the gunk in your drain, in reality, drain fly larvae may be able to survive through the drain cleaning treatment. Other alternative solutions like bleach aren’t effective either as some larvae can be resistant to the effects of bleach.

If you suspect that drain flies are coming from a particular drain, one simple trick to monitor the situation is to put a clear plastic contain over the opening of the drain. You should be able to see adult flies emerging from the drain.

Once you have identified where the flies might be coming from, you can use a product like Pestie to treat areas where they frequently land. This can include around windows, in indoor potted plants, or near your trash can. Keep in mind that you should never treat counters or other places where you do food prep. If you still have questions about where to treat, our team of bug experts can give you custom treatment tips based on your home.

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Quick facts

Scientific name
Family - Psychodidae
Other common names
Sewer Flies, Moth Flies, Sink Flies, Sewer Gnats
Colors
Light gray or tan
Life span
2 weeks
Diet
Organic material, sewage, drain scum

How dangerous are Drain Flies?

Low danger risk

Drain flies are harmless flies that are more of a nuisance than a health concern. However, they are an indicator of poorly draining pipes and have been known to trigger asthmatic attacks in susceptible individuals.

If drain fly larvae don’t have enough to eat, they may end up eating each other!

FAQs

Drain flies and fruit flies can both be found hovering around in your kitchen, but they look different and live in different environments. Drain flies are fuzzy and resemble a small moth, while fruit flies are more tan and yellow with red eyes. Fruit flies are also attracted to ripe or decaying fruits and vegetables, while drain flies want the dark, moist gunk in your drain.
Some reports about drain fly larvae can be very troubling. Some species of drain fly can lay eggs in open sores or wounds in your skin, and the larvae can grow in your skin. This is a condition called myiasis.
However, this is extremely rare for humans, and even though it’s more common in animals, it’s still rare. Chickens are more susceptible than most animals. Sanitary conditions have to be very poor for something like this to happen.

About the authorDr. Grant BoltonPhD, Entomology

Grant specializes in the pest control and AgTech industries, blending scientific expertise with creative storytelling.

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