Drain Fly Larva (also known as Moth Fly Larva)
Scientific Name: Clogmia albipunctata (usually defined by Family: Psychodidae)
Order & Family: Order: Diptera, Family: Psychodidae
Size: Typically 3 to 10 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found in moist, organic environments rich in sludge or biofilm, such as sink drains, sewage pipes, septic tanks, compost piles, and bathroom floors.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on decaying organic matter, microscopic algae, fungi, bacteria, and the gelatinous slime (biofilm) within drains.
Behavior Patterns
The larvae live in sludge and are semi-aquatic, breathing through a siphon tube. They are often stationary or move sluggishly through muck. They pupate into small, fuzzy, moth-like flies.
Risks & Benefits
Primarily a nuisance pest in households. They do not bite or sting humans, but they breed in unsanitary conditions and can mechanically transport bacteria from drains to other surfaces. In nature, they are beneficial decomposers.
Identified on: 2/5/2026