“I was taking a bath when I saw two small worms in it with me”, writes Pam in her submission about the tiny, black worm-like creatures pictured below. “I want to make sure that they are not harmful. They had larger “heads” and thinner yellow and black tails. I have never seen them before.” To start with, we want to thank Pam for the excellent photos she sent us: the resolution is so good that we can even see the finest details on these critters when zooming in on the photos. And it was because of this that we managed to come to a conclusion regarding their identity. Well, sort of.

The thing is that Pam sends photos of two creatures that are similar in color, but very different in shape. The first photo shows us a big, black blob with a worm-shaped tail: it is very odd-looking, and we have never seen anything like it. The second photo shows us a striped-creature, with a head larger than its body, but not nearly as large as the first creature’s, and with two tiny antennae sprouting from its head. It was this second photo that told us that this is a drain fly larva, and that the first critter could be one too; maybe it was disfigured, or maybe it was getting ready for pupation?

In any case, we do not think Pam needs to worry. Drain fly larvae can be a nuisance, but they are ultimately not harmful to people. Despite spending so much time in a drain, they do not spread disease or pathogens, nor do they carry parasites. Naturally, they can still spread bacteria, like just about any other living organism. How did these larvae end up in Pam’s bath then? Well, the adult flies will lay their eggs on the organic film that forms on the lip of a drain, so by cleaning that out, and by continuously cleaning one’s drains and bathrooms, one can prevent and control drain fly infestations. This is exactly what we recommend Pam do.

To conclude, the little, black, worm-like creatures Pam found in her bath are drain fly larvae. We are still a tad unsure about the first creature, so if Pam wants a second opinion, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take the critters, or photos of them, to her local county extension office. We hope this helps, and we wish Pam the very best!

Summary

Article Name

Black Worms with Big Heads in Bath are Drain Fly Larvae

Description

"I was taking a bath when I saw two small worms in it with me", writes Pam in her submission about the tiny, black worm-like creatures pictured below. "I want to make sure that they are not harmful. They had larger “heads” and thinner yellow and black tails. I have never seen them before." To start with, we want to thank Pam for the excellent photos she sent us: the resolution is so good that we can even see the finest details on these critters when zooming in on the photos. And it was because of this that we managed to come to a conclusion regarding their identity. Well, sort of.

Author

Worm Researcher Anton