Maggots are another gross nuisance to households. Although small, these scary critters instill fear into many people when they’re found in trash and on food items.
Rest assured, these insects are not completely harmful. But, its a good idea to learn more about where they come from and what to do when you find them.
Jody Green is a member and contributor to the journals of the Entomological Society of America. She shares the dirt on where maggots come from and how to get rid of them.
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Maggots emerge from fly eggs that are laid wherever there is a safe place and a fresh source of food for the new brood of maggots to feed on. Mature flies will lay between 75 -150 eggs at a time in places like trash, carrion, feces, or rotting food. These eggs hatch into maggots between 7 – 24 hours.
What do maggots look like?
Maggots are small worm-like organisms with a whitish-cream color and no legs or eyes. They are often found in large amounts because flight lay thousands of eggs at a time.
“When the little tiniest larvae hatch, they’re so small that they can get into the smallest little gaps and cracks and crevices,” Green said.
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How to kill maggots
In the unfortunate event that you do stumble upon a maggot infestation, Green suggests several options to get rid of the pests depending on the situation.
Maggots inside a trash can outside and in your home
Immediately take the trash can out of the house and throw away the source. Clean out and rinse the bin and all accessories. Spray the inside and outside of the bin with a disinfectant or insecticide to kill any eggs, maggots or flies that are leftover.
Maggots in raw meat
The meat is no longer edible so you must dispose of the contaminated meat in an outside receptacle. Clean and disinfect any surfaces that have come in contact with the meat.
If you are trimming raw meat, instead of throwing away the scraps into a trash bin, place them in a bag. Tie the bag so no outside organisms can reach the meat inside and put it in the freezer until trash day. Throw away the scraps the day trash is collected so it is not sitting outside exposed to potential pests.
Fly infestation in kitchen or home
Oftentimes, you will not be able to see the maggots until they become flies. If you notice many flies in your kitchen, buy a fly-repellent insert for your in-home trash cans.
“You can put (it) in the trash can and that releases a vapor to kill the flies in there,” Green said. “As long as people and other (living) things arent in the trash can, its going to be relatively safe for people.”
The best way to prevent a maggot infestation is to maintain cleaning habits like:
- Taking out the garbage when its full
- Cleaning out trash cans, large trash receptacles and garbage disposals
- Disinfecting kitchen surfaces
- Storing away raw meat properly
- Picking up any feces from house pets
- Keeping produce in air-tight containers
“Ultimately, you want to break that lifecycle and find out where they’re breeding if you end up seeing the maggots,” Green said. “A couple adult flies doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have maggots, but when you see maggots or you see lots of flies, you know they’re developing somewhere close by and you need to find that source, the breeding source, and get rid of it.”
How do maggots suddenly appear?
FAQ
Why do maggots suddenly appear?
How do maggots magically appear?
What does it mean when maggots appear in your house out of nowhere?
How do maggots get into closed containers?
Why do maggots appear out of nowhere?
The eggs that hatch maggots are very small, so they are difficult to see. When these eggs hatch into maggots, it may seem as though they appear out of nowhere. What causes maggot? Decaying organic matter such as rotten vegetables and dead animals causes maggots. Flies lay eggs in this decaying organic matter, and these eggs hatch into maggots.
How do maggots appear?
To comprehend how maggots appear, we must first examine their life cycle. Understanding the stages of development can shed light on their sudden emergence. The life cycle of maggots consists of four primary stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult fly. Each stage plays a crucial role in the continuation of their species. 4.
How do you kill maggots out of nowhere?
One of the best ways to kill maggots is to pour boiling water onto them. The high temperatures of the boiling water will kill the maggots. How do maggots appear out of nowhere? The eggs that hatch maggots are very small, so they are difficult to see. When these eggs hatch into maggots, it may seem as though they appear out of nowhere.
How do maggots grow & develop?
Maggots grow and develop when they hatch from eggs. After a female fly lays eggs, it takes 24 hours for the larvae to hatch. The pale white grubs may only measure a few millimeters long. Like most larvae, maggots have a large appetite, and some species soon grow to be 0.8” (2 cm) long. Maggots come from eggs that female flies lay.