Adult drain flies tend to hover around their breeding grounds. To effectively eliminate drain worms, you need to destroy their breeding ground. The presence of drain worms in your toilet may indicate a drain fly infestation in your plumbing, or a crack in your sewer line. Stagnant, shallow water provides the ideal breeding ground for them, so you will most likely find them in toilets that are infrequently used. They will only grow to about 10 mm (or about 3/8 of an inch) long and will live for nine to fifteen days before pupating into adult flies.ĭrain worms feed on sewage and decaying organic matter and thrive in places with high moisture, such as drains, septic tanks, sewer pipes, sump pits and plumbing fixtures. Drain worms have a dark stripe on their dorsal area and a noticeable dark breathing tube on one end. They eventually turn into drain flies, also known as sewer flies, filter flies, or sink flies.Īdult drain flies lay clusters of about ten to two hundred eggs in moist organic matter, which hatch into larvae in about 48 hours. They are the most common types of worms you might find in your toilet bowl after a vacation. These are small black worms, also referred to as drain worms. You may need a certified professional plumber to check all your sewer lines to identify and fix all possible entry points. For example, since earthworms live in the soil, their entry points are likely underground. However, you may need professional help to get rid of other types of worms. Getting rid of some worms, such as bloodworms, may be as easy as cleaning your bathroom thoroughly. How to Prevent Small Worms in Your Toilet Bowlĭrain worm larvae, bloodworms, and horsehair worms are the most common types of worms you might encounter in your toilet.

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