I want to knock everything down in Britain, I want to break it, start again... - it's not like standards of living were up there in the first place; only there to benefit the business owners.
One day, a smart wo-man will have invented a device to eradicate 'drain fly larvae or moth fly larvae'. It'll catch you off-guard at times and apparently it's signs of bad design, bad building designs to aging infrastructures, right up to poor maintenance practices. Believe me, I keep on top of things, but this isn't one I can control/stop - it's going to take reinventing a number of systems to precision.
I spoke to CoPilot about the old age buggy business...
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Got you — you’re not talking about
silkworms, you’re talking about
drain moth larvae / sewer fly larvae (often called “silkworms” because they look like tiny white worms that wiggle).
And yeah… finding them in a toilet or creeping out of gaps is
deeply unpleasant.
Let’s break this down so you actually get control over the situation, and then I’ll explain how a house can be built to avoid this kind of infestation in the first place.
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🧩 What you’re actually seeing
Based on your description:
•white or greyish worm-like things
•found in toilets, skirting board gaps, pipe gaps
•building with old or messy plumbing
•next door has a dormant building
These are almost certainly
drain fly larvae. They thrive in:
•stagnant water
•cracked pipes
•gaps around toilets
•damp flooring
•unused drains
They’re not dangerous, but they’re a sign that
something is wet, leaking, or not sealed properly.
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🚨 Why they’re appearing in your flat
You basically described the perfect storm:
1. Old or poorly installed piping
If the pipes aren’t sealed properly, larvae crawl out from:
•gaps around the toilet base
•gaps where pipes enter walls
•under skirting boards
2. Dormant building next door
An unused building often has:
•stagnant water
•blocked drains
•broken pipes
•no ventilation
This becomes a breeding ground, and pests migrate.
3. Shared building with 13 flats
If even
one neighbour has:
•a leak
•a blocked drain
•a dirty bathroom
the infestation spreads through the shared plumbing network.
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🛠️ How to stop them in your current place
You don’t need to rebuild the whole house — you need to
cut off their access and their breeding sites.
Step 1 — Seal every gap
Use:
•silicone sealant
•expanding foam (for bigger holes)
•pipe collars
Seal:
•around toilet base
•around pipe entry points
•under skirting boards
•cracks in tiles
This alone stops 80% of the problem.
Step 2 — Treat the drains
Do NOT use bleach alone — it doesn’t dissolve the organic sludge they live in.
Use:
•enzyme drain cleaner (breaks down the gunk)
•boiling water flushes
•a drain brush if accessible
Do this for:
•toilet
•sink
•shower
•floor drains (if any)
Step 3 — Check for leaks
Even a tiny drip under the toilet or sink creates a breeding zone.
Step 4 — Dry the area
Larvae cannot survive on dry surfaces.
Use:
•a fan
•dehumidifier
•open windows
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🏠 If you were building a house from scratch: how to avoid this forever
This is the part you asked for — how to build a home that
never gets these beasts.
1. Fully sealed plumbing
•No exposed pipe gaps
•All pipe penetrations sealed with silicone or collars
•Toilet installed with a proper wax/rubber ring
•No flexible pipes where not needed
2. Proper drainage slope
Water must never sit still in pipes.
3. Ventilated bathrooms
Humidity = pests.
Ventilation = no pests.
4. Concrete floors with waterproof membrane
Stops moisture under flooring.
5. Skirting boards sealed top and bottom
No gaps = nowhere for larvae to crawl.
6. Access panels for inspection
So leaks are found early.
7. External drains with traps
Stops insects from migrating up the pipes.
8. Regular water flow in all drains
Unused drains = breeding grounds.
Even in a new house, run water weekly.
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🎯 The real issue
You’re not dealing with “annoying worms.”
You’re dealing with
a building that wasn’t sealed or maintained properly.
You’re not the problem — the construction is.
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If you want, tell me:
•what the worms look like (colour, size)
•where exactly you saw them
•how old the building is
I can help you confirm the species and give you a targeted plan to eliminate them completely.
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The conversation continues...
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You’re asking three different things at once — and they’re all interesting, so let’s break them down clearly and without any fluff.
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1. Do you get these worms in caravans or coach‑style homes?
Yes, absolutely.
Drain fly larvae (the “silkworm‑looking” things you saw) can appear in:
•caravans
•motorhomes
•static homes
•converted buses/coaches
•tiny homes
can get them.
Caravans are actually
more vulnerable because:
•they often sit unused for long periods
•water can stagnate in pipes
•seals dry out and crack
•ventilation is limited
•waste tanks can breed insects if not cleaned
So yes — caravans can get them, but the cause is always the same:
moisture + organic sludge + gaps.
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2. How do dogs and cats cope with them?
Pets don’t care about drain fly larvae at all.
•They don’t bite animals
•They don’t live on fur
•They don’t parasitise mammals
•They don’t come from pets
•They don’t harm pets
Dogs and cats might sniff them, lick them, or ignore them.
They’re harmless to animals and humans — they’re just disgusting.
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3. Are these worms connected to ancient animal biology or “millions of years of chemistry”?
Not in the way you’re imagining.
Here’s the real story:
🧬 They’re not ancient parasites of mammals
Drain fly larvae evolved to live in
rotting organic matter and stagnant water, not inside animals.
🦠 They’re basically sewer recyclers
Millions of years ago, their ancestors lived in:
•swamps
•mud
•decaying plant matter
•stagnant pools
They evolved to break down sludge, not to interact with mammals.
🐕 They are NOT from dogs or cats
They don’t come from:
•pet fur
•pet waste
•pet food
•pet biology
They come from
your drains, not your animals.
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🧱 Why they show up in your home specifically
Based on everything you’ve said:
•old building
•messy pipework
•gaps around skirting boards
•shared plumbing
•dormant building next door
You’re living in a structure with
multiple moisture pathways and unsealed pipe penetrations.
That’s why you see them crawling out of gaps — they’re coming from the plumbing voids.
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🏠 If you want a caravan/coach/home that NEVER gets them
You need:
1. Fully sealed pipe entry points
No gaps around:
•toilet pipes
•sink pipes
•shower drains
2. Properly vented waste system
Stops pressure changes that push insects upward.
3. Regular water flow
Unused drains = larvae paradise.
4. Dry flooring and no hidden leaks
Moisture is the enemy.
5. Smooth, accessible plumbing
So sludge can’t build up.
6. Good ventilation
Humidity encourages breeding.
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🎯 Bottom line
•Yes, caravans can get them.
•Pets don’t care and aren’t affected.
•These worms aren’t ancient pet parasites — they’re just drain insects doing what evolution designed them to do.
•Your building’s gaps and plumbing layout are the real cause.
If you want, tell me what the worms looked like (colour, size, movement) and I can confirm exactly what species you’re dealing with.
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