The most telltale sign of having drain worms somewhere in your home is the constant presence of adult drain flies. They are nocturnal but, during the day, you may spot them resting on walls. In some cases, drain worms can also crawl up from the drain.
Drain flies are not known to bite or transmit any diseases to humans. However they can trigger bronchial asthma in susceptible individuals and their larvae can cause myiasis, a parasitic infestation in which the larvae grow inside human tissue.
If they appear, it means you need to spend more time cleaning out your drains. However, drain worms don't necessarily mean dirty pipes. You could also be having a plumbing problem such as a leaking pipe that leads to an accumulation of stagnant water, which provides an ideal breeding ground.
The common way for you to have drain worms in these parts of your home is because a female drain fly or flies could have come in and laid clusters of eggs. They are, of course, naturally attracted to damp areas for their eggs.
The worms that have been reported to have been found in tap water are midge larvae, flatworms, roundworms (otherwise known as nematodes), and rotifers. The typical size of parasitic worms or helmiths, such as flukes, tapeworms, hookworms, ascris, pinworms, trichina worms, and filaria worms is 30-50 microns in diameter.
Learn the Pest Biology
Life Cycle: Adult females lay 30–100 eggs in sludge around sewage and drainage areas. Eggs hatch in 32–48 hours, larval stage lasts 8–24 days, pupal stage 20–40 hours. Adults live about two weeks.
Schistosoma parasites can penetrate the skin of persons who are wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated water. Within several weeks, the parasites mature into adult worms and live in the blood vessels of the body where the females produce eggs.
But parasites can easily sneak into our tap water supplies too. Both here in the United States and abroad, even if your tap water is running clear, that doesn't mean it's entirely safe. The microscopic parasite Giardia, for example, is found in every region of the US.
Cause worms enter the bathroom
If the house uses groundwater flow or untreated boreholes, then you will likely experience this problem. Not only the type of water but a poor home drainage system can also cause worms to infiltrate a damp bathroom.
They do not bite, sting, or spread diseases, but their decaying bodies may cause allergic reactions. They can also spread bacteria from trash, decaying vegetables and fruits. Drain flies breed in areas that are moist and have a lot of organic remains, including: Sinks.
The gnats most likely to occur in sinks and sink drains include fruit flies, moth flies and to a lesser degree phorid flies. The breeding and developmental sites for these small flies, often called sink gnats, are varied, but for the most part include habitats that stay moist and contain decomposing waste components.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Mix 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar and then pour the mixture down the drain, leaving it overnight. In the morning, pour boiling hot water down the drain.
There are three types of worms (flatworms, roundworms [nematodes], and rotifers) found in water. For the most part, they dwell in the bed of material at the bottom of lakes and streams. There they do important work as scavengers. The rotifers are the only organisms in this category at or near the surface.
Horsehair worms are often seen in puddles and other pools of fresh water, swimming pools, water tanks and on plants. They are especially noticeable after a rainfall. Horsehair worms may be found inside homes in toilets causing people to be concerned that it is a human parasite.
A human can contract tapeworms through: drinking contaminated water. interacting with affected animals and contaminated soil.
Check If Your Drains are Clogged
Regularly checking and unclogging your drains can keep bugs out and ensure your pipes are working correctly. Adult drain flies and other drain bugs love clogged drains because of the moist environment they provide for the flies to lay their eggs.
What do drain flies look like? Drain flies are commonly referred to as “moth” flies because of their moth-like appearance. These tiny flies range in color from light tan or gray to black and their bodies are covered in small hairs, giving them a furry appearance.
Perhaps the most common type of drain bug, some species of cockroaches often thrive in bathroom and kitchen drains, which can supply them with a reliable source of both food and water. Drains also often serve as entry points for these cockroaches looking to share the comforts of our homes.
Drain flies thrive in stagnant and standing water. Common sources include slow or clogged drains, rarely used and unused toilets, refrigerator drain pans, and standing water created by leaking pipes. They typically enter buildings through basements, windows, and drains.
Size: Drain flies measure about 1.5 to 5 mm long. Larvae: Drain fly larvae are not longer than 4 to 10 mm when fully mature and they are slender with a dark strip on the "back" or dorsal area. Larvae do not have eyes, and they are legless.
They look like small white threads moving about and may be seen with a torch. The threadworms may also be seen on the surface of the stools (poo) if a person has a heavy infestation.
One way to detect pinworms is to shine a flashlight on the anal area. The worms are tiny, white, and threadlike. If none are seen, check for 2 or 3 additional nights.
Signs and Symptoms
Parasites can live in the intestines for years without causing symptoms.