Dear Home-Ec 101,
I have three window wells in my finished basement, and I’m continually finding tiny black dead flies. Despite my efforts in spraying and pouring gallons of bleach and ammonia down the window wells, I discovered something resembling yellow cocoons in these areas, which I suspect the flies have built. I knocked them down and doused them with bleach, but it hasn’t helped. Recently, I’ve noticed a couple of dozen dead flies on my kitchen floor. They disintegrate the moment you touch them. Can you help me identify what these insects are and how I can effectively eliminate them?
Sincerely, Shoo-Fly
Dear Shoo-Fly,
It’s crucial to ensure that you waited long enough after using bleach before introducing ammonia into the same drain. Mixing those two substances without proper ventilation can lead to dangerous reactions.
Now, let’s get to the good news and the bad news. The good news is that what you are encountering is a common nuisance pest known as drain flies, or drain moths. Though they may be unpleasant, rest assured they do not spread diseases. However, it’s important to clarify that these flies are not the ones responsible for the cocoons you’ve noticed. Without knowing your specific location, I would suspect that spiders are the likely creators of those cocoons, settling in once they caught wind of the drain fly buffet in your window well. I recommend leaving those spiders alone until you manage to control the drain fly situation, which may take some time.
Another possibility for the cocoons, particularly if you found them alongside grass or straw, is a type of wasp that preys on stink bugs. If you’ve ever dealt with stink bugs, you might find yourself welcoming this beneficial insect.
The bad news is that completely eliminating the drain flies in your situation may prove challenging. You’ll need to approach this problem from multiple angles and assess whether it’s worth the effort.
The lifecycle of drain flies is semi-aquatic; their larvae thrive in the organic matter that accumulates within drains. Outdoor drains, like those in your window well, can easily become clogged with organic debris such as grass, dirt, and other insects. This organic buildup, combined with any standing water, creates an ideal breeding ground for drain flies. It’s as if you’ve set the stage for a party, and all the unwanted guests are showing up.
These flies will likely find their way into your basement and potentially invade other areas of your home. The first step is to identify and seal any entry points that may allow these pests to infiltrate your living space.
After you’ve addressed the external invasion, it’s time to focus on the indoor problem. Some of the flies from your window well may have taken flight and entered your home. Many basements contain floor drains or laundry sinks, which often get neglected until they become problematic. Chlorine bleach is not an effective solution, as it fails to eliminate the underlying organic matter. As the drain fly population grows, they will seek new territories, eventually making their way to your kitchen and other drains throughout your home.
While I typically hesitate to recommend heavy-duty drain cleaners as a first-line solution for a slow drain, this situation calls for an exception. To effectively tackle the indoor infestation, you must clean every drain in your house on the same day, starting from the top floor and working your way down to the basement. This method is essential; otherwise, you may find yourself chasing those pesky flies from drain to drain, ultimately using more chemicals than necessary. Thoroughly cleaning all indoor drains is vital, especially since many of them may not be easily accessible due to being partially underground. If you were writing to me about a slow drain, I would suggest alternative methods, but this is an insect infestation, which requires a different approach.
So, go ahead and grab the Draino. If this heavy-duty approach gives you pause, consider planting a tree when you’re done as a way to give back to the environment.
Lastly, think about cleaning the drains in your window wells as well, ensuring that these pests cannot find another way inside. If you don’t have actual drains in your window wells, it’s likely that water is pooling and stagnating at the bottom. Addressing this will prevent it from seeping into your basement.
Good luck!
Send your household questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.
References:
- Klass, Carolyn. “Drain Flies or Moth Flies.” Insect Diagnostic Lab Factsheet. Cornell University, Revised Jan. 2016.
- “The BugGuide.” The BugGuide. University of Iowa Entomology Department, n.d.
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