Question:

Dear Mr. Orkin Man

Today I visited a hotel in Dubai noticed that they have problem flies. The flies are white in color and they seem to be “oozing” from the drain pipes in almost all the bathrooms. Could you please tell me what species of the flies and what methods of control are used?

Your early response will be appreciated greatly.

ANSWER There are several species of flies that can breed in drains in bathrooms. These include moth flies (sometimes called drain flies), phorid flies, house flies, and some other species of small flies. None of these flies are white…so I don”t recognize what you have coming out of the drains…unless you are referring to the maggots–these would be white. The best solution to this problem is to first, physically clean the drains–remove as much of the organic material as possible; then use a biological drain cleaner on a regular basis (every two weeks).