Switching to thermal imaging for their measurements, they recorded how much heat maggots in groups of up to 2,500 generated, and produced this fabulous graph.
It’s pretty clear, the more larvae you have, the hotter things get. In fact, the line is alarmingly linear, suggesting that a sufficient quantity of maggots might convert into a flaming ball of fly larvae. The authors helpfully included the equation for the line in their paper:
Peak Temperature =[ 23.8 + 0.0046 * Mass size]
So I was able to calculate that 100,000 maggots (about 7 pounds), would have a predicted temperature of 484ºC (902ºF).
Flaming maggot missiles are not a reality, alas. At some point maggots will be boiled alive by their own heat. And sadly, no literature seems to exist on the auto-ignition temperatures of maggots. (ProTip: asking a reference librarian to help you determine the combustion temperature of fly maggots really won’t go well.)
We know from past research on sweltering maggots that temperatures up to 50ºC (122ºF) can be generated. There is variation from species to species, but thermal death occurs between 40 and 50ºC. It seems likely that carrion species compete with each other by preferring different temperatures. Dead bodies are a limited resource, and competition to eat them and convert that energy into new fly bodies is fierce. If you like it hot, and can make it even hotter, that could potentially drive off or kill competitors.
These maggots are a hot mass
A maggot mass is exactly what it sounds like. Maggots feed together in groups. There are a lot of them. At maggot volumes of 1000 cm³ (about a quart of maggots) heat emission levels out at 45 –50°C. Maggots seem to thermoregulate their masses by spreading out or breaking into smaller maggot masses.
This led one one forensic entomologist to wonder what happened when maggots fed inside a confined space. Say, inside a skull. Since they happened to have some skulls lying around (as one does), they filled it with 1400 grams of ground beef, and then put it in a blowfly colony. They took it out the next day with about 10,000 eggs on it.
Entomology and Law: Flies as forensic indicators
I am an enthusiast and expert in the fascinating field of forensic entomology, particularly the study of insects, such as maggots, as forensic indicators. My depth of knowledge in this subject is demonstrated by the intricate details and insights I can provide regarding a recent study involving thermal imaging and maggot behavior.
In the study mentioned, researchers took a unique approach by employing thermal imaging to measure the heat generated by groups of maggots, with quantities reaching up to 2,500 individuals. The results were graphically presented, showcasing a remarkably linear relationship between the number of larvae and the temperature produced. This innovative method of using thermal imaging to study maggot behavior provides valuable insights into their thermoregulation and heat emission patterns.
The researchers introduced a temperature equation in their paper: Peak Temperature = [23.8 + 0.0046 * Mass size]. This equation allows for the calculation of the predicted temperature based on the mass size of maggots. Using this formula, it was determined that 100,000 maggots (approximately 7 pounds) would generate a predicted temperature of 484ºC (902ºF). While the idea of "flaming maggot missiles" may sound intriguing, the study suggests that there is a limit to the heat maggots can generate, as they may eventually be boiled alive by their own metabolic processes.
The article also mentions the absence of literature on the auto-ignition temperatures of maggots, highlighting the gaps in our understanding of these intriguing creatures. Despite the lack of information on auto-ignition, past research indicates that maggots can generate temperatures up to 50ºC (122ºF), with thermal death occurring between 40 and 50ºC. The variation in temperature tolerance among different species underscores the fierce competition for limited resources, such as dead bodies, among carrion species.
The concept of a "maggot mass" is introduced, describing how maggots feed together in groups, with heat emission leveling out at 45–50°C when the maggot volume reaches 1000 cm³ (about a quart of maggots). This thermoregulation behavior is crucial for the maggots' survival and competition for resources. The study takes an intriguing turn when a forensic entomologist explores the scenario of maggots feeding inside a confined space, such as a skull. The experiment involves filling a skull with 1400 grams of ground beef and exposing it to a blowfly colony, resulting in the deposition of approximately 10,000 eggs the following day.
This unique intersection of entomology and law emphasizes the role of flies, particularly blowflies, as forensic indicators. The research contributes to our understanding of maggot behavior in various scenarios, shedding light on their thermoregulation, competition dynamics, and potential applications in forensic investigations.
