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INTRODUCTION.
These flies get the common name of moth fly from their fuzzy appearance, their
bodies and wings being very hairy. The drain/filter/sewage fly common names are from
places or situations which represent typical breeding and developmental sites. Although
usually thought of as nuisance pests, there have been cases where inhalation of their body
parts caused bronchial asthma. Moth flies are found throughout the United States and most
of the world.
RECOGNITION.
Adults about 1/16-1/4" (1.5-5 mm) long, delicate and fuzzy. Color pale
yellowish to brownish gray to blackish, depending on the species. Antennae 12- to 16-
segmented, each segment bulbous and with a whorl of long setae (hairs). Wings broadly
oval, pointed apically, veins and margins hairy, and held rooflike over body at rest.
Non-biting. In addition, oceiii absent and cross veins restricted to basal 3rd of wing.
Mature larvae about 1/8-3/8" (4-10 mm) long, eyeless and legless. Subcylindrical in
form, with head narrower than body and terminal rear (apical) segment narrow, forming a
short hardened (scierotized) breathing tube. All or some body segments with narrow,
transverse, scierotized, strap-like bands (usually 2 or 3) on their dorsum. Color pale
with head, dorsal bands, and apical breathing tube dark.
SIMILAR GROUPS.
Sand flies (Psychodidae, subfamily Phlebotominas) with 2nd
longitudinal vein of wings branching distant from wing bass (moth flies with it branching
near wing base), legs long and slender, wings held together above body at rest, females
bite.
Mosquitoes (Culicidae) with wings long and narrow, veins and wing
margin covered with scales.
Other flies lack dense hair on body and on wing veins and margin.
REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES.
Pacific drain fly, Psychoda phalenoides (Linnaeus). Adults about
1/8" (2-2.3 mm) long; wings brownish gray; antennae 15-sagmented, with segments 13
and 14 each half the size of 12th segment; found along the Pacific Coast from southern
California to Alaska.
Psychoda altemata Say. Adult about 1/16" (2mm) long; body light
tan, wings lighter but faintly mottled with black and white, wings with brown spots at
ends/tips of veins; antennae 15-segmented but appearing 14-segmented (segments 13 and 14
fused), segment 15 small, buttonlike; ranges from Florida to Massachusetts and westward to
Washington and California.
Psychoda satchalli Quate is pale yellowish and antennae 14-segmented
with segments 13 and 14 subequal in size; ranges from Georgia to Quebec and westward to
Alaska and California.
Psychoda cinerea Banks is pale yellowish with 16-segmented antennae
having the terminal 3 segments equal in size; eastern United States.
Telmatoscopus albipunctatus (Williston) is brown or blackish, white
hairs on thorax, and white spots at tips/ends of wing veins; antennae 14-segmented; found
throughout the United States.
BIOLOGY.
Adult females of Psychoda altemata lay their 30-100 eggs in irregular masses on
the surface of the gelatinous film which covers filter stones of sewage treatment plants
or which lines the water-free portions of drain pipes. Both the larvae and pupae live in
this gelatinous film with their breathing tube(s) projecting through the film. The larvae
feed on the algae, bacteria, fungi, microscopic animals, and sludge of this film. At 70,F
(21 IC) eggs hatch in 32-48 hours, the larval stage lasts 8-24 days, and the pupal stage
lasts 20-40 hours. The developmental time (egg to adult) is 7-28 days, depending on
conditions. Adults typically live about 2 weeks. Although they may breed in sewage,
apparently they do not transmit human diseases. However, in South Africa, there have been
cases of bronchial asthma where the inhalant allergen consisted of dust composed of dead
moth fly body parts.
HABITS.
Because of their small size, moth flies are able to penetrate ordinary screens. Moth flies
are weak fliers, so indoors they are usually seen crawling on walls or other surfaces.
When they do fly, it is only for short distances of a few feet and their flight is in
characteristic short, jerky lines. During the day, they typically rest on vertical
surfaces near drain openings indoors and in shaded areas outside. Their greatest activity
is in the evening when they can be seen flying or hovering above drain openings indoors or
sewage filter beds, etc. outside. Typically, only a few adults are seen at a time in
structures because the adult flies live only about 2 weeks but are continually being
replaced with newly emerging flies as they die. However, large numbers of adults usually
means that an outside source such as a sewage treatment plant is involved. Even though
they are weak flies, they can be carried distances of 300 feet (91 m) or more by the wind.
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