BIZARRE !! WORMS found in Toilet!!!

[Our20th]

Let me start off by saying that I have been motor homing for 30 years and have owned several class A units and have never encountered this bizarre experience.
This a 2022 unit with bath and half. One gravity toilet and one macerator.

We completed a one week trip 1 month ago. Parked the unit at our home under cover and plugged in and beginning to prepare for our extended summer travels.

While doing routine cleaning I opened lids on both toilets to flush the stagnant sitting water and do some cleaning. The gravity toilet was fine.
Upon opening the lid on the macerator I saw what at first glance looked like a lot of dirt in the bowl. Then I noticed that the dirt was wiggling!!!! These are worms the thickness of a piece of thread and about 3/8" long!!

What the heck are they and how did they get there?????
I sprayed bleach in the bowl to kill them.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[Gary RVRoamer]

I would guess the macerator hasn't been pumping the area totally, or maybe leaking some "stuff" underneath. I have no idea what sort of worms they may be, but I would surely want to learn where they came from and how they were surviving these. As the first step towards eliminating them.

[Lv2Roam2]

Interesting! In the growing list of possibilities you should consider whether somebody has pinworms.

[theroc]

I'm thinking that they are most likely drain fly larvae. They are commonly found in all kinds of drains where there is moisture and decaying organic matter that builds up in places like drains.

They are not really worms at all but larvae that eventually turn into tiny drain flies, sink flies, or drain gnats.

I don't think they are coming up through the black tank. They are attracted to a moist place to lay their eggs.

How to Get Rid of Drain Flies

[RVFunlovers]

Wow, that is creepy.

That would completely freak my wife out.
She would have me super cleaning, bleaching, and re cleaning my tanks.

Good luck.

[theroc]

If my suspicion is correct and they are drain fly larvae, they are most likely not coming up through the black tank. I think the drain flies are looking for a moist place or a small amount of stagnant standing water to lay their eggs. That's why they are commonly found in toilets that have been sitting unused for an extended period of time ...or other small pockets of water or moisture where bacteria is present. That's why they're commonly found in any plumbing fixture or drain that is sitting unused like sinks, tubs, garbage disposals, etc.

I've read articles (like the one in the link below) that say bleach is pretty much ineffective in getting rid of them. Vinegar is more effective or a solution of vinegar and dish soap.

How to Get Rid of Drain Fly Larvae

[153stars]

That or maggots .
EDIT oops responded too early .

Originally Posted by Lv2Roam2

Interesting! In the growing list of possibilities you should consider whether somebody has pinworms.

[THenne1713]

Pin worms, tape worms or Trichinosis. Physician can help determine best way to test family and treat if necessary. Know kids that got hook worms from Miami beach sand a few years back. "Miami-Dade Health Department officials confirmed Thursday the invasion of hookworms on Miami Beach. The nasty parasites have infected as many as 15 beach goers in the past week. Officials think cats are to blame for the outbreak. Cat poop, where hookworms love to live, has been found up and down the beach area between 50th and 65th streets."

Ridiculous was the Rx $$ in USA was like $100-$600/pill vs same drug in Central America= OTC and $0.10

[Mark_K5LXP]

Originally Posted by Our20th

flush the stagnant sitting water

That's probably 90% of the problem right there. Whenever I park my RV for an extended time I leave the bowl dry and put in a couple glugs of olive oil. Forms a liquid gasket and keeps the seals wet. Water would just evaporate, or create a petri dish science experiment before it did.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[Mr. T]

I don't think I will show this post to my wife