It’s about 1/8-inch long.

Drain flies do not cause damage but are a nuisance in large numbers.

They gravitate toward rotting, decaying organic material and standing water to lay their eggs.

How to Get Rid of Drain Flies

The Spruce / Madelyn Goodnight

Read on for tips and tricks to get rid of pesky drain flies the next time they pop up.

Drain flies look fuzzy, while fruit flies do not.

Fruit flies circle a fruit basket or decomposing food, while drain flies are found near drains.

What Causes Drain Flies?

Drain flies are attracted to the combination of moisture and decaying organic material.

Fixtures and floor drainsespecially those not flushed out oftenare prime locations for these flies.

Sump pump pits are other popular locations for drain flies to breed.

Mosquitoes also lay their eggs in stagnant water, from full ponds to small puddles.

you might use simple traps with plastic cups or insect glue boards.

Check the traps regularly.

If no flies are detected after several days, move the trap to another suspected spot.

Drain flies do not bite or sting, as their mouthparts are much too small to pierce the skin.

These are not blood-feeding insects, and they have no interest in biting.

The common drain fly lives about 8 to 24 days, depending on temperature.

During this time, it mates and lays eggs once.

Texas A&M Entomology.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Drain Flies (Moth Flies).

Ohio State University Extension.