Drain worms are also known as drain fly larvae, filter fly larvae, or bathroom fly larvae. These eggs will hatch into larvae within 48 hours, and these larvae are the unappealing black or brown worms you may see wriggling around your drain or in the basin of your sink.
Maggots are essentially the larvae of the common housefly. They come from the eggs that adult flies lay and will feed off almost anything to help them grow into adult flies. They are particularly drawn to leftover food and waste products which makes homes a prime target for infestation[1].
Finding tiny black worms in your bathroom can be alarming, and it's essential to identify the root cause of this issue to effectively address it. These tiny invaders, often referred to as drain flies or moth flies, thrive in damp environments such as bathrooms, where moisture is prevalent.
Drain worms can look sinister but they are not known to bite or transmit blood-borne diseases to humans like other insects do. The health risk they carry lies in where they come from. They can spread bacteria where they go and if they're coming up from the sink drain, they can potentially contaminate food.
Flies are attracted to food and other rubbish; they lay their eggs on the rubbish; later the eggs hatch into maggots. You will only have a problem with maggots if flies can get to your waste. If flies settle on your rubbish they may lay eggs which can hatch out as maggots within 24 hours.
Try a salt kill
Maggots need water to thrive and survive, and salt is a natural dehydrator. Dowse the creepy crawlies with a large amount of table salt to dry them out. Once they are dead, sweep the maggots into a plastic bag and dispose of them. Make sure to wash the area they infested thoroughly!
Mix equal parts of salt and baking soda (half a cup each), and pour down the drain, then follow with a cup of vinegar. Let it sit overnight. The chemical reaction will not only kill drain flies but also remove any grime or grease that might be acting as a breeding ground.
Most likely, these little black bugs are drain flies. While not dangerous, they are unsanitary, and we recommend getting rid of them ASAP. The presence of drain flies can also lead to infestations of pests that prey on drain flies – like spiders.
If you spot tiny black worms in your toilet, they are probably drain fly larvae. These pests live off of sewage and decaying matter, which makes your toilet a perfect location for them. Adult females lay large clusters of eggs, which explains why there may be more than one worm in your toilet.
Their larvae have been known to be an opportunistic agent of myiasis—a parasitic infection of the body that can occur when the larvae enter the body—though this is quite rare. So, no, drain flies aren't likely to make you sick.
Size and Shape: Drain fly larvae are elongated and worm-like in shape. They are typically smaller than adult drain flies, measuring about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) in length. Their bodies are cylindrical and somewhat translucent. Color: Drain fly larvae are usually a pale, creamy white or gray color.
Drain Moths, also known as drain flies, will lay eggs in cracks and crevices and their young are worm like little creatures. Once they feed and get their fill, they'll pupate and become small black flies that can be seen flying up in the air above tubs, showers and sink drains.
Around homes, maggots are most commonly the larvae of either house flies or blow flies. The maggot larvae thrive in dirty and unsanitary conditions and can wreak havoc on anyone who ingests them through unhygienic food. When a fly lays eggs, they become maggots and hatch within 7-20 hours.
This will include beetle grubs, butterfly/moth caterpillars, the larva of bees/wasps/ants, the lacewing/antlion family, mantidflies, and many more that I would describe if I had all day. Bees, wasps and ants are closest to maggots, in that the young are nothing but eating machines.
If maggots have already made their way into your home, pour boiling water over them or sprinkle them with salt – this will instantly get rid of them for you. You can also try using fly bait or traps to catch and kill adult flies before they have a chance to lay eggs.
Drain worms are also known as drain fly larvae, filter fly larvae, or bathroom fly larvae. These eggs will hatch into larvae within 48 hours, and these larvae are the unappealing black or brown worms you may see wriggling around your drain or in the basin of your sink.
Bleach to the Rescue
The most popular and possibly most effective chemical cleaner would be bleach and hot water. Combine equal parts bleach and hot water in your garbage cans and close the lid. The fumes will kill the maggots and disinfect the surface area, hopefully keeping them away.
Maggots don't just show up out of the blue. If maggots are currently in your house, that means a fly first found its way into your home through an entry point and decided to lay eggs somewhere. Flies tend to flock to rotting material, spoiled food, or old garbage and use that as their breeding ground.
Use vinegar or soda:
Mix one tablespoon of vinegar or soda with water, spray it on the areas where you see earthworms, and they will be completely restricted. If you were looking for how to get rid of earthworms naturally, go for this solution.
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. Especially if the tiled floors are not closed perfectly.
Answer: You may have maggots, like you think, and not see what they are feeding on. Maggots will leave their food source in order to pupate in a dryer environment. It could also be the larva from Indian meal moths that are looking for a place to pupate.
You can either pour granulated salt directly onto maggots, or you can create a table salt solution that can be poured or sprayed across food waste or a garbage bin.
Vacuum: If maggots are in carpets or upholstery, use a vacuum cleaner to suck them up. Empty the vacuum bag or canister immediately afterwards. Use a larvicide: If you're dealing with a large infestation or can't locate the source, consider using a commercial larvicide spray or powder.