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Small gnat-like flying bugs in bathroom


InChapala1

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I have a large infestation of a small gnat-like flying bug in my bathroom. I tried apple cider vinegar mixed with soap, but not a single bug took the bait. So it might not be a gnat. Any idea what the critter might be and how I get rid of it? I have none of these bugs in the kitchen and they don't seem to be attracted to fruits or the garbage. They seem to be attracted to water, but not sure. They are just in the bathroom. I've used an electronic fly swatter to kill them, but a few hours later, there's several dozen more. Any ideas?

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I never get to take a good look at bobos 'cuz I'm too busy swatting them away. I have a few of the bathroom variety described that are attracted to water. Their wings are rounded and look rather like Mickey Mouse ears. They don't bite like mosquitoes so I'm really not bothered by them. However, if I had more than the occasional one in the shower, I'd be swatting them with the zapper as well.

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Buy a liter of Mezcal.  Place a lid from a mayonnaise jar on the floor and fill with the Mezcal.  Drink the remainder of the Mezcal.  The gnats will drink the Mezcal and then fall into the lid and drown.  In the morning the gnats will either be gone or you will not care.

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Alpha1- thanks for posting the photo. That's the critter.

ajijicbound and jguerin- I will try vinegar and/or Clorox.

jguerin- when you "I was putting Clorox in the drain regularly," is once daily adequate, or more or less frequently? And how much Clorox each time (1/2 cup, more)?

ajijicbound- if its black fungus that attracts them, then I have an issue I was not aware of!

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3 hours ago, InChapala1 said:

Alpha1- thanks for posting the photo. That's the critter.

ajijicbound and jguerin- I will try vinegar and/or Clorox.

jguerin- when you "I was putting Clorox in the drain regularly," is once daily adequate, or more or less frequently? And how much Clorox each time (1/2 cup, more)?

ajijicbound- if its black fungus that attracts them, then I have an issue I was not aware 

Black fungus is a normal phenomena a warm climate. I had that in the southern US too. Nothing to worry about. Just monitor your drains, also the remedy's keep them clear. Clorox may burn a hole in your plastic pipe. The others are better.

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Looks like "Drain flies" to me too.... 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drain_fly

I buy Harpic Destop (not a typo) and follow directions and pour down ALL drains in house.  I buy mine at Jara Hardware, just west of Telmex on north service road.

https://super.walmart.com.mx/limpieza-del-hogar/destapacanos-liquido-harpic-destop-1-l/00750105877210

 

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1 hour ago, Oatsie said:

Looks like "Drain flies" to me too.... 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drain_fly

I buy Harpic Destop (not a typo) and follow directions and pour down ALL drains in house.  I buy mine at Jara Hardware, just west of Telmex on north service road.

https://super.walmart.com.mx/limpieza-del-hogar/destapacanos-liquido-harpic-destop-1-l/00750105877210

 

Anything that has a warning label as long as that should probably not be used to get rid of a few flies, and one should consider that many drain pipes here are not exactly of the best materials and may be old. I know what kind of pipes I have because I had the whole system replaced and no way would I put anything that caustic down them.

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1 hour ago, Oatsie said:

Looks like "Drain flies" to me too.... 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drain_fly

I buy Harpic Destop (not a typo) and follow directions and pour down ALL drains in house.  I buy mine at Jara Hardware, just west of Telmex on north service road.

https://super.walmart.com.mx/limpieza-del-hogar/destapacanos-liquido-harpic-destop-1-l/00750105877210

 

That sounds like them. 30 some years in Mexico and I've never had them.

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16 hours ago, Ferret said:

IF you are on a septic system, PLEASE use hydrogen peroxide in the shower drain pan.

If you are on septic system using clorox or other strong acid can kill the bacteria in your system and cause many septic problems.  The bacteria converts your waste to liquid in the tank making for easier disposal. 

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It would really help if people would read about "the care and feeding of septic systems" on the internet. And clorox is an alkali not an acid... as is ammonia. The lovely bacteria in a septic system like to be at the same ph as the human body... around 7.4. Putting either a strong alkali or a strong acid into it will kill them.

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3 hours ago, lakeside7 said:

We call them fruit flies

You can call them fruit flies, but they're not fruit flies.  They're drain flies.  I've had them too, and used all of the remedies recommended on this thread to get rid of them.  Nothing worked for me until I started covering my shower and sink drains in the bathroom.  That did the trick.  They hatch in the drains, but they can't get out.  

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