Pests We Treat Photo Album: Pest Control in East Brunswick, NJ

Recently, I went out on call from one of our commercial clients, a restaurant owner in East Brunswick, NJ. The owner was complaining of a large number of drain flies in their kitchen. As I was inspecting their kitchen I found drain flies near this one counter. After inspecting the area, I found this drain that hasn’t been clean in a long time. Finding a swarm of small, gnat-like creatures flying out of your sink overflow hole can be unsettling. Drain flies, these pesky creatures lay their eggs in the gunk that builds up in the pipes. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the pipe sludge and dine on any available organic matter (grease, hair, toothpaste) until they morph into adults and fly out of the drain.

Flies in the Sink Shoo Fly Shoo

While servicing the kitchen I found drain flies near this one counter sink. After inspecting the area, I noticed that this drain hasn't been clean in a long time.

Slimy Cover

Once I took the drain cover off I saw exactly how dirty it was. As I turned the cover over grime was hanging off of it. Even if the drain wasn't dirty, this alone would attract drain flies.

What a Mess

As I looked in the drain I saw that it was even worse than the cover. Drain flies live off debris in the form of a humid film on the drain sides and in the drain trap. The combination of debris from dishes and discarded food makes the perfect environment for drain flies to thrive.

Cleaning Up the Mess

First, I wiped all the gunk out of the drain and drain stopper. After that, I cleaned and foamed the drain with a solution that removes the bad bacteria from the drain. The bad bacteria is the breeding ground for the drain flies. By removing the bad bacteria we're eliminating the breeding habitat for the drain flies. Targeting the drain flies alone won't solve the problem. To rid the owner of drain flies, I must also eliminate the eggs and the larvae that are hiding in the gunk.

Squeaky Clean

Now the drain has received a thorough treatment and the drain flies have been removed. I advised the owner to make sure that all drains are cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis.

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