We took our TT 2 weeks ago fot its maiden trip. I emptied both black ad grey tanks at the campground. I also rinsed them using the built in rinse mechanism, the one that tiu attach a hose and it was suppose to rinse the tanks. Anyway, i parked the TT for 2 weeks now. Yesterday, we went there to add TV mooint. When i opened the toilet bowl cover, there were at least 100-200 small insects that started flying. Freaked out my son. My questions are:1. How or where did they come from?2. Are we suppose to leave some water inside the bowl when in storage? Or the bowl suppose to leave it empty and dry?3. When in storage, can we still use the toilet to pee? Or do not use it at all?4. How do i get eid of those insects? How do i prevent that from happejing again? Thanks.

Your suppose to some water in the toilet bowl at all times - helps keep the gasket from drying out and controls odors. Many will keep a small amt of water in the black and gray water tanks between camping trips to help keep drain valve gaskets from drying out. During long term storage use antifreeze in toilet bowl - some will completely empty tanks and leave valves open - some like me will keep a small amt of antifreeze sometimes combined with a lubricating oil to keep gaskets from drying out.Can you pee in the toilet when stored - I do on occasion and don't see a reason you can't so long as valves are closed and you make sure you add water/antifreeze to keep some liquid in the toilet bowl.Not sure where the insects came from - hatch of some kind. Keep some water in the toilet and valves closed and I probably won't get a repeat.

Maybe change your diet...:BSeriously, hold the pedal down and fog the inside of the black tank with bug spray (insecticide).Then follow : ksg5000's advice above.

the 17 year Cicadas strike again....

Both the bowl and the black holding tank should neither one ever be left empty.The insects are not likley to have come from the black tank as the flapper valve is supposed to be water tight, thus it is bug tight. Probably some insect laid eggs inside the toilet at some point after you set up your black tank for furture use and in the mean time they hatched. Keep in mind that the toilet LID is not air tight and insects can easily get inside even with the lid closed.

Different RVParks, with different sewer systems and we still occasionally get the small black flies during a flush. I used to think it was eating fresh fruit every spring/summer.I've used flying bug spray down the poop chute and it will kill a few. Just don't know about hundreds.

Insects in the toilet bowl | Good Sam Community

SCVJeff
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
Those are sewer flies and that's been covered here before. There's a 99% chance one got up into the bowl during your cleaning and started the colony.
dadmomh
Explorer
May 31, 2013
Agree that you definitely need to keep at least a couple of gallons in your black tank, and I go ahead and add the chemicals at that time. If it sits for very long before the next trip, I'll add more chemicals.

Since these critters were flying around, I'd be inclined to not only use some sort of spray down the toilet but to also set off 1 fogger inside. Those little stinkers can lay a zillion eggs and this should take care of both the ones that are alive, but kill the eggs as well. Remember to wash all surfaces that you have food around....actually wouldn't hurt to just give everything a quick wipe off with something like Mr. Clean with Febreeze....something great smelling.
Passin_Thru
Explorer
May 31, 2013
My Father-in-Law said,"Dog Pecker gnats, keep your head above that level!" But they are gnats and harmless. Will go away if you wash toilt bowl a couple of times.
mlts22
Explorer
May 31, 2013
Dish hand soap is what I add to the black tank. If it can dissolve grease, it can eventually break down solids.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
May 31, 2013
Any chance that the eggs might have come from the freshwater tank that supplies the water to the toilet?
DutchmenSport
Explorer
May 31, 2013
Enough said about keeping water in the bowl of your toilet....

The insects probably hatched from eggs and came from anywhere. It only takes 1 insect to lay an entire colony! To get rid of them, simply spray with a Raid flying insect killer of any kind (fog the room real good), flush your toilet bowl, clean under the rim (even if it looks clean already), and keep the flapper on the toilet closed holding water. In a few days, spray again (fog the room). If insects form again, all you can do is keep spraying until all eggs are hatched and the young are killed.

Remember to sweep up the dead bugs!
M_GO_BLUE1
Explorer
May 31, 2013
...and for those of you who think "Well my $#!@$ don't stink, well..."

Seriously as already suggested always keep some water in the bowl for gasket lubrication and some water in the black tank at all times...are you also adding anything else to the black tank to help with odors and breaking down the TP and solids?
rockhillmanor
Explorer
May 31, 2013
Just one of the reason why I never leave the black or gray tank valves open when hooked up at CG.
hitchup
Explorer
May 31, 2013
Different RVParks, with different sewer systems and we still occasionally get the small black flies during a flush. I used to think it was eating fresh fruit every spring/summer.

I've used flying bug spray down the poop chute and it will kill a few. Just don't know about hundreds.
skipnchar
Explorer
May 31, 2013
Both the bowl and the black holding tank should neither one ever be left empty.
The insects are not likley to have come from the black tank as the flapper valve is supposed to be water tight, thus it is bug tight. Probably some insect laid eggs inside the toilet at some point after you set up your black tank for furture use and in the mean time they hatched. Keep in mind that the toilet LID is not air tight and insects can easily get inside even with the lid closed.

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Insects in the toilet bowl

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