Drain Fly

Order/family: Diptera/Psychodidae

Scientific Name: Psyched spp. and Telmatoscopus spp.

Description: Drain flies, also called moth flies, are very small delicate and “fizzy” flies about 1/16” to 1/4” long. They are yellow, brownish-gray, or black. The pointed, leaf-shaped, white speckled wings are held roof-like over their backs when at rest. The body and wings are covered with long dense hairs. These flies have long antennae with 3 to 15 bead-like segments. Mature larvae are 1/8” to 3/8” long. They are aquatic and are long and cylindrical with the fore end of the body somewhat flattened on the lower side which has eight suckers. They have dark hardened patches on the back of each segment, and they breathe through a hardened, stalk-like siphon tube at the end of the body.