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Have you ever noticed that there is often a strange little bug called a moth (pronounced "ruì") in the bathroom? This small, swarthy black creature is soft and weak, and at first glance, it is often mistaken for a moth. They lie motionless on the wall every day, giving people a very mysterious feeling.
However, did you know that although they are not as conspicuous as flies and not as annoying as mosquitoes, gnats are a frequent infestation in our bathrooms and can even pose a threat to our health.
What is a Gnat?
As a member of the order Diptera, gnats share some basic ecological attributes along with flies and mosquitoes, such as the fact that they all have thick hairs covering their wings, which is one of their most striking physical characteristics.
Before gnats could burrow into human homes to parasitize, most of them lived in humid natural environments, even on waterfall rock walls.
Therefore, they borrow dense wing feathers to form water droplets under the action of surface tension, and roll down from the hair under the action of gravity, effectively blocking the water, which is the survival technique of the gnat.
But how do gnats manage to sneak into our homes?
It turns out that they often use sewers to invade homes. Because their larvae feed mainly on humus, things like feces, sewage filth, and even a tiny bit of dirt can be ideal places for them to hatch.
It only takes half a month for the young pupae to develop into adults. Therefore, if the drain in the home is not careful, "their children" may escape from the drainage system when they grow up.
Are gnats a health hazard?
I know you're probably wondering if gnats pose some kind of health threat? The answer may be more complicated than you think.
While gnats don't bite like mosquitoes or fly around to spread germs, they still have some potential hazards.
For example, young mothflies prefer to eat carrion from humans. If the wound is not healed in time, they may choose it as a spawning site. Within half a month, we can observe many moth fly larvae multiplying in the wound, which is what we usually call "fly magiasis".
In addition, adult mothflies often roll in sewage pipes and burrow out, and they may carry a lot of bacteria. If they accidentally fly into the eyes or nose, they are likely to cause inflammation in those sensitive areas.
So, how can we prevent gnats from invading?
To successfully clean up these little bugs, we need to start at the source, and here are some effective solutions:
1. Use high temperature to kill insect eggs
You can pour a basin of boiling water directly into the drain so that the eggs that have not yet hatched in the drain are completely eliminated. Hot water at 100 degrees Celsius can basically remove all the eggs.
2. Maintain a good ventilation environment
Long-term exposure to dark and damp conditions with poor hygiene will provide a good space for moths and other insects to grow. You'll need to open the bathroom door frequently to maintain ventilation, and if the bathroom has windows or ventilation fans, turn them on frequently to maintain ventilation.
After using the sink or shower, remove the accumulated water as soon as possible to prevent the growth of mold and small worms. Ensuring that the bathroom is clean is not only to prevent insect infestation, but also to protect the health of the occupants.
3. Renovate the drain
You'll need to redesign the drains in all rooms, especially the floor drains in the bathroom, the drains in the washing machines, the drain holes in the wash basins, etc. Once the invading passage of insects such as moths is blocked, they will not be able to enter the room.
There are some floor drains on the market that prevent insect infestation and foul odors, so if you can, you can consider replacing them.
4. Clean the toilet tank
The toilet tank has become a warm and humid environment due to its long-term water storage and lack of ventilation, which is the favorite environment of the little flying insects. In order to get rid of small flying insects, you need to thoroughly clean the toilet tank when cleaning the bathroom.
5. Cover the drain with plastic wrap
Every day before going out or going to bed, you can cover the drain with soaked plastic wrap and place a large floor drain plug on top to cut off the way out of the bugs.
It should be noted that some people often use disinfectant to disinfect sewers, but this practice is not recommended because the smell of disinfectant may cause harm to the human body, and some products may cause corrosion to pipes, so it needs to be used with caution.
Flying insects in the restroom are a very common problem, but we can solve this problem by keeping the restroom dry and clean, cleaning the trash cans in a timely manner, using insect repellent products, and disinfecting it regularly.
For the sake of our health and quality of life, we should pay attention to the cleaning and sanitation of the bathroom to avoid the trouble caused by the breeding of flying insects.