Drain Detectives: Solving Drain Flies, Fruit Flies, and Roaches at the Source

You hear a steady buzz from the kitchen sink or spot tiny moth-like flies near the bathroom drain—what’s really living in those pipes? In this practical, 10-minute IPM-first episode we walk a real field case where homeowners misidentified fruit flies, drain flies, and small roaches, then show how inspection, exclusion, sanitation, and moisture control point to the real source. Mike and Dana break down identification clues you can spot (wing shape, flight pattern, wet organic buildup), explain why pipes and traps are predictable pest habitat, and give an XTERMIGATOR DIY Report of safe, non-chemical steps you can do today. No pesticide mixing, no panic—just checklist-driven pest prevention, when to escalate to a licensed inspection, and a quick myth-buster about pouring bleach down drains. Listeners leave with clear actions: find the trap, clean the buildup, dry the area, proof entry points, and monitor for return.