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General Characteristics:

- Resembles a tiny moth

- Body hairy, variably yellow through gray to black; when at rest, wings held roof-like over body

- Wing veins numerous, hairy, parallel, with no cross-veins in outer two-thirds of wing

- Antennae long, containing 12-16 segments, each segment bulbous with ring of long hairs

- Adult body length 1.5-4 mm

Reproduction:

- Females lay irregular masses of 30-200 eggs in the organic gelatinous film lining drains, in bathtubs and showers

- Eggs hatch 32-48 hours after being laid, when ambient temperatures are 70ºF (about 20ºC), larvae pupate 9-15 days later

- Pupa stage lasts 20-40 hours

- Development time from egg to adult is 7-28 days, depending on temperature and food availability

- Adults live for about two weeks

Signs of Infestation:

- Adults often found around sewage installations, in public washrooms, and bathrooms in homes, and are attracted to light

- Larvae live in organic sludge that forms on inner surfaces of drains and sewage pipes

- Pupae occur on the surface of the organic film that the larvae have been living in

Control Techniques:

- Close and seal as many openings as possible through which the flies can enter.  This procedure is time consuming and may require a dedicated long term effort.

- Thorough cleaning of all floor drains, including scrubbing debris from piping walls, is necessary to reduce or eliminate reproduction

- Use a  compressed air sprayer to apply a surface spray to surfaces in attics, basements, closets, store rooms and other areas where the flies congregate. 

- Using a pyrethrin aerosol for treating cracks and crevices will compliment your surface spray

- Insecticides such as dusts, wet table powders, microencapsulated products, or aerosols may be used ACCORDING TO LABEL SPECIFICATIONS AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS

Please click here to contact a Focus Pest Control professional to inquire about further treatments for this pest species.



References:

“Subfamily Psychodinae - Moth Fly” (On-line). Iowa State University Entomology. Accessed Jan.
6, 2010 at http://bugguide.net/node/view/64068

Disclaimer:

The Focus Pest Control ‘Pest Library’ is an educational resource written largely to educate the general public about common pests in Ontario. The Focus ‘Pest Library’ does not include all species in Ontario, nor does it include the most recent scientific data about species we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While Focus Pest Control staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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