In this video, we take a look at Drain Fly Larvae under the microscope. My mom found the larvae in the shower. We also explore everything about drain flies! This is the first real episode of Microscope Monday!
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Information about Drain Fly:
This is a drain fly larva, before I tell you about the life cycle of a drain fly, let me tell you what it is.
Drain flies or sink flies, filter flies, or sewer gnats have the scientific name (Psychodidae)
They are small true flies (Diptera) with short, hairy bodies and wings that make them look like moths
Insects of the order Diptera use only a single pair of wings to fly
Examples of other insects in this order are horse flies and my personal favorite, the fruit flies.
Back to the drain fly
There are more than 2,600 described species worldwide, most of them native to the humid tropics.
Drain flies sometimes inhabit plumbing drains and sewage systems, where they are harmless, but cause persistent annoyance.
This specific drain fly larva was found on the wet floor of one of our showers.
Life Cycle of the Drain Fly:
Eggs hatch within 48 hours into larva
The larvae of most fruit flies live in aquatic to semi-terrestrial or sludge-based habitats, including bathroom sinks, and shower crevices where they feed on bacteria and can become problematic.
The larval form of the moth flies is usually between 4 and 5 mm (0.16 and 0.20 in) long, and is shaped like a long, thin, somewhat flattened cylinder
the body segments are divided into a series of rings called annuli
Since its thorax is similar in size to the rest of its body, it has a worm like appearance which is different that most insect larva
Image of mosquito larva
breathe via a small dark tube (a spiracle) on their posterior end
9 and 15 day stage
The pupal stage lasts between 20 and 40 hours.
They stay submerged near the water surface, still breathing through a spiracle
They soon metamorphose into an adult fly, which bursts through a seam in the pupal casing and emerges onto the water's surface.
The adults are typically nocturnal, though they orient themselves around lights and may appear to be attracted to light and odors.
The adults live for about 20 days, during which they will breed only once, often within hours of emerging from their pupal casings. Females will lay their eggs (between 30 and 100) just above the water line inside moist drains. Within 48 hours these eggs hatch into drain worms, the larval form.
Human effects:
The drain flies which are commonly found in bathrooms, Clogmia albipunctata, are not known to carry any human diseases
They are known to be the opportunistic agent of Myiasis
Myiasis is the parasitic infestation of the body of a live animal by fly larvae (maggots) which grow inside the host while feeding on its tissue
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Links to Informational Sources:
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I used the Olympus cx21 microscope in this video:
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I filmed with my phone on a tripod and a Lumix Camera on a tripod.
I edited this video with premiere pro.
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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
My videos are educational relating to biology, microscopy, and medicine. This means copyrighted footage or music pertaining to my topics is protected under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 as stated above.
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