Drain fly |
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Clogmia albipunctata |
Scientific classification |
Kingdom: |
Animalia |
Phylum: |
Arthropoda |
Class: |
Insecta |
Order: |
Diptera |
Suborder: |
Nematocera |
Infraorder: |
Psychodomorpha |
Superfamily: |
Psychodoidea |
Family: |
Psychodidae |
Subfamily: |
Psychodinae |
Tribe: |
Paramormiini |
Genus: |
Clogmia |
Species: |
C. albipunctata |
Binomial name |
Clogmia albipunctata
Williston, 1893 |
Synonyms |
- Clogmia guianica (Curran, 1934)
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Drain flies, moth flies, or sewer gnats (Psychodidae) are small true flies (Diptera) with short, hairy bodies and wings giving them a "furry" moth-like appearance, hence their common name moth flies.[1]
Contents
- 1 Description
- 2 Sand flies
- 3 Pest control
- 4 See also
- 5 References
- 6 Further reading
- 7 External links
Description
Moth flies are classified as Nematocera and are small (<2 mm). The adults have long antennae and the wings are leaf-shaped, either slender or broad, with the most elementary wing venation of any Diptera, having little more than a series of parallel veins without crossveins. Adult Psychodidae are typically nocturnal, though they orient themselves around lights and may appear to be attracted to light.
As a nuisance, they are associated with damp habitats in human bathrooms and kitchens. The larvae of the subfamilies Psychodinae, Sycoracinae and Horaiellinae live in aquatic to semi-terrestrial or sludge-based habitats, including bathroom sinks, where they feed on bacteria and can become problematic.[2] Prevention is best accomplished by removing food sources such as hair clogs in drains.
The adults live for about 20 days, during which they will breed only once. Adults lay their eggs just above the water line inside moist drains. Sometime later, these eggs hatch into drain worms. The dark 6–7 mm long larvae are similar to those of mosquitoes in that they breathe through a small tube located at the back end of their narrow, maggot-like bodies. These larvae can sometimes be seen crawling along the moist edges of crevices in shower stalls or bathtubs. The insects complete their pupation stage submerged/ wet, and the adults then hatch at or under the waterline.[citation needed]
Sand flies
The subfamily Phlebotominae includes many blood-feeding species; they are inhabitants of more arid regions and are often called sand flies outside the United States where sand flies are distantly related Nematocera of the Ceratopogonidae. This subfamily is sometimes treated as a separate family Phlebotomidae; the type genus is Phlebotomus. Phlebotominae are a very important group medically, transmitting various tropical diseases, but most importantly kala azar leishmaniasis. Phlebotomus species are also vectors for bartonellosis, verruga peruana, pappataci fever, an arbovirus caused by sandfly fever viruses such as Naples and Sicilian strains, which are members of the genus Phlebovirus (family Bunyaviridae), which also includes the closely related Toscana virus.[3][4]
In the New World, the genus implicated in the transmission of leishmaniasis is Lutzomyia. L. chagasi is responsible for the visceral form, while others like L. gomezi and L. longipalpis may be responsible for transmitting the cutaneous and mucocutaneous forms of this tropical disease.
The Sycoracinae, another subfamily, are also of hematophagous habits, being parasitic on frogs. The European species Sycorax silacea has been shown to transmit microfilarian worms.[5]
Pest control
Because of the extremely fine water-repellent hairs covering their bodies, adult drain flies are difficult to drown, and are not affected by contact with most water-borne toxins such as bleach. Boiling water has little or no effect on the adults for the same reason, and even the eggs are highly resistant to both chemical or thermal assault. Eggs can also withstand periods of dehydration. Extermination of this household pest depends on the maintenance of clean household drains for a period of at least three weeks.[citation needed]
Because of their attraction to light, drain flies may sometimes be controlled by using fan-based traps baited with visible or ultraviolet light.[citation needed]
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Drain fly. |
References
- ^ Moth Flies in the Home — Department of Entomology — Penn State University
- ^ Denny Schrock (31 January 2004). Ortho home gardener's problem solver. Meredith Books. ISBN 978-0-89721-504-6. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ Shope RE (1996). Bunyaviruses. In: Barron's Medical Microbiology (Barron S et al., eds.) (4th ed.). Univ of Texas Medical Branch. (via NCBI Bookshelf) ISBN 0-9631172-1-1.
- ^ Valassina M, Cusi MG, Valensin PE (2003). "A Mediterranean arbovirus: the Toscana virus". J Neurovirol 9 (6): 577–83. doi:10.1080/13550280390247678. PMID 14602570.
- ^ Desportes, C. 1941. Forcipomyia velox Winn et Sycorax silacea Curtis, vecteurs dIcosiella neglecta (Diesing, 1850) filaire commune de la grenouille verte. Annals de Parasitologie Humaine et Compareè, 19: 53–68.
Further reading
- Quate, L.W. 1955. A revision of the Psychodidae (Diptera) in America north of Mexico. University of California Publications in Entomology.
- Quate, L.W. & B.V. Brown. 2004. Revision of Neotropical Setomimini (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae). Contributions in Science, 500: 1–117.
- Vaillant, F. 1971. Psychodidae – Psychodinae. In: E. Lindner, ed. Die Fliegen der Palaearktischen Region, 9d, Lieferung 287: 1–48.
- Young, D.G. & P.V. Perkins. 1984. Phlebotomine sand flies of North America (Diptera: Psychodidae). Mosquito News, 44: 263–304.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Psychodidae. |
- Wing venation
- Ohio State University Extension
- Diptera.info Gallery
Extant Diptera families
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- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Infraclass: Neoptera
- Superorder: Endopterygota
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Suborder Nematocera
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Culicomorpha
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Culicoidea
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- Dixidae (meniscus midges)
- Corethrellidae (frog-biting midges)
- Chaoboridae (phantom midges)
- Culicidae (mosquitoes)
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Chironomoidea
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- Thaumaleidae (solitary midges)
- Simuliidae (black flies)
- Ceratopogonidae (biting midges)
- Chironomidae (non-biting midges)
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Blephariceromorpha
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- Blephariceridae (net-winged midges)
- Deuterophlebiidae (mountain midges)
- Nymphomyiidae
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Bibionomorpha
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Bibionoidea
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- Bibionidae (march flies, lovebugs)
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Anisopodoidea
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- Anisopodidae (wood gnats)
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Sciaroidea
(fungus gnats)
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- Bolitophilidae
- Diadocidiidae
- Ditomyiidae
- Keroplatidae
- Mycetophilidae
- Sciaridae (dark-winged fungus gnats)
- Cecidomyiidae (gall midges)
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Psychodomorpha
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Scatopsoidea
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- Canthyloscelidae
- Perissommatidae
- Scatopsidae (minute black scavenger flies, or dung midges)
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Psychodoidea
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Ptychopteromorpha
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- Ptychopteridae (phantom crane flies)
- Tanyderidae (primitive crane flies)
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Tipulomorpha
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Trichoceroidea
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- Trichoceridae (winter crane flies)
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Tipuloidea
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- Pediciidae (hairy-eyed craneflies)
- Tipulidae (crane flies)
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Suborder Brachycera
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Asilomorpha
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Asiloidea
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- Apioceridae (flower-loving flies)
- Apsilocephalidae
- Apystomyiidae
- Asilidae (robber flies)
- Bombyliidae (bee flies)
- Evocoidae
- Hilarimorphidae (hilarimorphid flies)
- Mydidae (mydas flies)
- Mythicomyiidae
- Scenopinidae (window flies)
- Therevidae (stiletto flies)
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Empidoidea
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- Atelestidae
- Hybotidae (dance flies)
- Dolichopodidae (long-legged flies)
- Empididae (dagger flies, balloon flies)
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Nemestrinoidea
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- Acroceridae (small-headed flies)
- Nemestrinidae (tangle-veined flies)
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Muscomorpha
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Aschiza
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Platypezoidea
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- Phoridae (scuttle flies, coffin flies, humpbacked flies)
- Opetiidae (flat-footed flies)
- Ironomyiidae (ironic flies)
- Lonchopteridae (spear-winged flies)
- Platypezidae (flat-footed flies)
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Syrphoidea
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- Syrphidae (hoverflies)
- Pipunculidae (big-headed flies)
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Schizophora
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Acalyptratae
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Conopoidea
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- Conopidae (thick-headed flies)
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Tephritoidea
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- Lonchaeidae (lance flies)
- Pallopteridae (flutter flies)
- Piophilidae (cheese flies)
- Platystomatidae (signal flies)
- Pyrgotidae
- Richardiidae
- Tephritidae (peacock flies)
- Ulidiidae (picture-winged flies)
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Nerioidea
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- Cypselosomatidae
- Micropezidae (stilt-legged flies)
- Neriidae (cactus flies, banana stalk flies)
- Pseudopomyzidae (banana flies)
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Diopsoidea
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- Diopsidae (stalk-eyed flies)
- Gobryidae
- Megamerinidae
- Nothybidae
- Psilidae (rust flies)
- Somatiidae
- Strongylophthalmyiidae
- Syringogastridae
- Tanypezidae
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Sciomyzoidea
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- Coelopidae (kelp flies)
- Dryomyzidae
- Helosciomyzidae
- Ropalomeridae
- Huttoninidae
- Heterocheilidae
- Phaeomyiidae
- Sepsidae (black scavenger flies)
- Sciomyzidae (marsh flies)
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Sphaeroceroidea
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- Chyromyidae
- Heleomyzidae
- Sphaeroceridae (small dung flies)
- Nannodastiidae
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Lauxanioidea
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- Celyphidae (beetle-backed flies)
- Chamaemyiidae (aphid flies)
- Lauxaniidae
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Opomyzoidea
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- Agromyzidae (leaf miner flies)
- Anthomyzidae
- Asteiidae
- Aulacigastridae (sap flies)
- Clusiidae (lekking, or druid flies)
- Fergusoninidae
- Marginidae
- Neminidae
- Neurochaetidae (upside-down flies)
- Odiniidae
- Opomyzidae
- Periscelididae
- Teratomyzidae
- Xenasteiidae
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Ephydroidea
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- Camillidae
- Curtonotidae (quasimodo flies)
- Diastatidae (bog flies)
- Ephydridae (shore flies)
- Drosophilidae (vinegar and fruit flies)
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Carnoidea
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- Acartophthalmidae
- Australimyzidae
- Braulidae (bee lice)
- Canacidae (beach flies)
- Carnidae
- Chloropidae (frit flies)
- Cryptochaetidae
- Inbiomyiidae
- Milichiidae (freeloader flies)
- Tethinidae
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Calyptratae
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Muscoidea
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- Anthomyiidae (cabbage flies)
- Fanniidae (little house flies)
- Muscidae (house flies, stable flies)
- Scathophagidae (dung flies)
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Oestroidea
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- Calliphoridae (blow-flies: bluebottles, greenbottles)
- Mystacinobiidae (New Zealand bat fly)
- Oestridae (botflies)
- Rhinophoridae
- Sarcophagidae (flesh flies)
- Tachinidae (tachina flies)
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Hippoboscoidea
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- Glossinidae (tsetse flies)
- Hippoboscidae (louse flies)
- Mormotomyiidae (frightful hairy fly)
- Nycteribiidae (bat flies)
- Streblidae (bat flies)
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Stratiomyomorpha
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Stratiomyoidea
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- Pantophthalmidae (timber flies)
- Stratiomyidae (soldier flies)
- Xylomyidae (wood soldier flies)
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Tabanomorpha
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Tabanoidea
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- Athericidae (water snipe flies)
- Austroleptidae
- Oreoleptidae
- Pelecorhynchidae
- Rhagionidae (snipe flies)
- Spaniidae
- Tabanidae (horse and deer flies)
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Vermileonomorpha
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Xylophagomorpha
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List of families of Diptera
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