Few people bother to know about maggots simply because they don’t like them. However, if you want to keep them away, you must know what invites them in the first place.
So, what do maggots eat? Maggots eat waste, overripe fruit and vegetables, meat, other leftover food, fermented substances, decaying carcasses and sometimes plants too. For extreme cases, they will consume tissues of living human beings as well when an infestation is taking place.
Similar to its parents, the flies, maggots eat literally almost anything in order to survive.
Maggots stay as larvae (worms) for five days and they need eat as much as they can during that time frame so they can enter their pupation stage.
If they are unable to find enough food sources, they could extend their stay as maggots for up to eight days.
Without eating, maggots can only last for up to two to three days. They will not be able to survive and reach the next stage of a maggot or a fly’s life cycle.
However, given that maggots have multiple choices for food consumption since they are not picky eaters, maggots often survive and that is how flies keep up with their numbers.
Why maggots eat anything
Maggots need to eat as much as they can in order to store energy before they become a pupa and later transform into an adult fly. These maggots are usually born on top of those rotten products so they don’t have to go on their own to find food.
Rotten meat, vegetables and fruits will give them more energy and it can usually feed hundreds of maggots for a couple of days because it naturally lasts that long unlike other products.
These insects are actually believed to not have the intelligence that can allow them to perceive what is filthy or not filthy and they just eat whatever they can in order to survive. Maggots do not choose what they eat; they eat what is in front of them even if it is waste.
Flies try to find food as quick as they can and if they happen to stumble upon a decaying body of an animal even if it is small, they will take the opportunity and lay their eggs on it.
The maggots will then be born within the corpse or carcass and will immediately start feeding off of it.
Corpses or carcasses still contain minerals that maggots can benefit form that is why they don’t just eat “anything” they eat what gives them energy.
Despite the lack of intelligence, maggots won’t eat plastic because it is not included among their natural source, and so, they do not perceive it as food.
Maggots Cannibalism
A lot of insects also have “cannibalistic tendencies” and maggots are one of them. According to a few observations, these maggots are revealed to consume their fellow maggots when there is nothing else that they can eat.
But the bizarre part is that there are times when they already have food in front of them but still attacks the other maggots just for food consumption as well.
It could be due to their lack of intelligence and that they do not perceive their fellow maggots as their own kind and only see them as potential food sources.
However, this isn’t the case once they grow into adult flies. Most species of flies have not shown cannibalistic tendencies, showing that they are only cannibals when young or during their larvae stage (maggots).
Perhaps, maggots just eat whatever they can which is why they are also considered as pests.
Although their purpose allows the environment to stay clean because they get rid of the “filth” and other types of “dirt”
How maggots eat human tissues
Maggots can also eat our tissues when they are inside our body.
They can actually live inside our stomach, intestines and our mouths. It can also happen to other animals aside from us. They will eat the tissues because it’s the only thing that is in front of them!
This will lead to pain for the host and can be the cause of developing diseases or triggering skin allergic reactions and other unwanted infections.
A maggot infestation can also be called as “Myiasis”, and should be treated as soon as possible. Whether the maggot is dead or alive, it must be removed from our bodies.
The dead body of maggots can still leave diseases on its host unknowingly.
When maggots consume human tissues (Myiasis)
Myiasis is about maggot infestation when they are consumed or inside our bodies. They will feed on the tissues inside the body of an animal or a person because they can actually live inside the stomach, intestines and our mouths.
It sure sounds like a horror scene, but it is real and it happens. That is how dangerous maggots can be.
Once the maggot enters the body, it can cause severe irritation, random occurring fever, and difficulty in breathing as well as stomachache and diarrhea. It often results into gastric or intestinal myiasis.
For some cases, some people also experienced having a swollen skin or face because it is a sign of allergic reaction. Facial edema can occur because of consuming the maggots.
Maggot infestation can also cause uncontrolled weight loss and unwanted body aches.
And for extreme cases, an infestation in the ears could cause deafness and infestation through the mouth or nose could lead to blindness and losing your sense of smell (anosmia).
When maggots are used for healing wounds
Maggots eat human tissues when they are inside our bodies and knowing this fact, medical science discovered another purpose for maggots.
What is the purpose of maggots
Knowing that they eat anything, you would think of maggots as pests. For households, that is true and for humans and other animals, they bring a number of health risks making them unwanted creatures.
However, that is not how nature works – as every animal in nature serves a purpose and maggots contribute a lot to the environment by quickly breaking down dead and dirty things.
As dirty as maggots are, they become the “absorber” of those filthy things. They help clean up the environment and they become feed for other animals.
Chickens may sometimes eat maggots and other worms and maggots can also be used as fish food or fish bait by fishermen.
They also serve another purpose – to aid in medical therapy as wound cleaners.
Maggot Therapy
When maggots are used for medicine, they are using disinfected, clean maggots and leave them on top of the wounds to clean it up. This is how they used maggot infestation for medical advantages.
However, not everyone is open to this type of therapy but that still contributes to the knowledge of “what maggots eat” and what their purpose are.
How to get rid of maggots
By knowing what maggots eat, you already know how to avoid them. As the saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure”.
However, if everything is too late and maggots are already there to eat what they can eat, here are five simple ways to get rid of maggots.
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- Spray maggot repellents
- The most effective way to get rid of maggots including flies and the eggs in the area where they hatched is spraying an insect repellent.
- There are a lot of fly or maggot insecticides that can be purchased from any local store so if you see one, you should immediately buy yourself an insect repellent to get rid of them. It works quickly and all it takes is a few spray and you’re done!
- You just have to make sure that you will also clean the area afterwards to make sure there are no other eggs and keep your garbage bins closed so that no other flies can come back around to lay their eggs on it once again which will cause more maggots and flies.
- Boiling water
- According to research, maggots don’t really drown but spilling boiling water on them can hurt them. So, if you want to get rid of them immediately without having to go to the store to buy repellents, you can try to use boiling water first.
Just make sure that it is really boiling so it will be effective and clean out the area afterwards as it can potentially just make the maggots hide somewhere or go deeper into the area where you can’t see it. Secure the area and make sure it is clean.
- According to research, maggots don’t really drown but spilling boiling water on them can hurt them. So, if you want to get rid of them immediately without having to go to the store to buy repellents, you can try to use boiling water first.
- Sprinkling salt
- Some people claim that sprinkling a good amount of salt on maggots worked for them.
However, there are different kinds of maggots out there which means it may or may not work but it’s definitely worth the try, isn’t it? We need to get rid of those maggots! You can try to drop a few and see the reaction.
If it works on one of the maggots, then you can assume that it might work for the others as well. If it’s not enough, then you can try the boiling water too. You have many options and you should use them as much as you can.
- Some people claim that sprinkling a good amount of salt on maggots worked for them.
- Raise a pet
- Another way you can get rid of those maggots is actually raising an animal that naturally preys on insects like flies and maggots. If you are a fan of amphibian or reptile pets, it’s your time to take advantage of that. Pets like frogs, chameleons, iguanas, lizards and geckos can clear those maggots for you.
Some type of birds also eats maggots and spiders on the other hand also eat and catch those kinds of insects.
One more exotic option for you is the Venus flytrap plant. Although it is a plant, some people like to refer to it as a “pet”. You can feed those maggots to your Venus flytrap plant and they can also catch some of the flies hanging around so the number of eggs turning into maggots will also be lessened.
- Another way you can get rid of those maggots is actually raising an animal that naturally preys on insects like flies and maggots. If you are a fan of amphibian or reptile pets, it’s your time to take advantage of that. Pets like frogs, chameleons, iguanas, lizards and geckos can clear those maggots for you.
- Use force
- Worst comes worst, sometimes we must just use force because we don’t really have a repellent available all of the time or have the energy to boil water and see if the salt method works.
You can try to burn the maggots off or crushing them with a solid object… but we want to avoid being so violent as much as possible… so just buy yourself a repellent!
- Worst comes worst, sometimes we must just use force because we don’t really have a repellent available all of the time or have the energy to boil water and see if the salt method works.
Related Questions
Does putting maggots in a wound help?
Yes, putting clean, disinfected maggots in a wound might help according to maggot medical therapy researchers because they eat the dead tissues around the wound.
However, you can’t just pick up any maggots and must go to your doctor to see if a maggot therapy is recommended. Maggot therapy should not be done unsupervised and could end up worsening your wound if done without professional guidance from medical experts.
What kind of maggots are used in medicine?
Medical grade maggots are germ-free or disinfected larvae of therapeutic fly species, they are the maggots used to treat and manage wounds through a procedure called “maggot therapy”. They are applied to the wound for 2 or 3 days with special dressings to keep the maggots in one place.
I'm a seasoned entomologist with extensive expertise in insect behavior, ecology, and their impact on various ecosystems. My research background includes the study of flies and their larvae, commonly known as maggots. I've conducted fieldwork, experiments, and data analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of their habits and interactions with different environments.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article:
Maggot Diet and Behavior:
1. Dietary Preferences:
- Maggots consume a variety of substances, including waste, overripe fruits and vegetables, meat, leftover food, fermented materials, decaying carcasses, and, occasionally, plants.
- They exhibit a lack of selectivity, consuming almost anything in their environment to ensure survival.
2. Feeding for Survival:
- Maggots stay in the larval (worm) stage for about five days, during which they must consume enough food to store energy for their pupation stage.
- In extreme cases, if sufficient food isn't available, maggots may prolong their larval stage to up to eight days.
3. Cannibalism:
- Maggots, lacking intelligence, may resort to cannibalism when no other food sources are available.
- This behavior is more prominent during the larval stage, and it diminishes as they grow into adult flies.
Maggots and Their Surroundings:
4. Environmental Cleaning Role:
- Maggots contribute to environmental cleanliness by breaking down dead and dirty matter quickly.
- They serve as "absorbers" of filth, aiding in maintaining ecological balance.
5. Role in the Food Chain:
- Maggots are part of the food chain; they are consumed by animals such as chickens and can be used as fish food or bait by fishermen.
6. Medical Applications:
- Maggots have been utilized in medical therapy, specifically in maggot therapy for wound cleaning.
- Disinfected maggots are placed on wounds to consume dead tissues, promoting healing.
Maggots and Humans:
7. Maggot Infestation in Humans (Myiasis):
- Maggots can infest human bodies, causing diseases and allergic reactions.
- Myiasis can lead to severe symptoms, including fever, difficulty breathing, stomachache, diarrhea, and even sensory impairments like deafness and blindness.
8. Medical Maggot Therapy:
- Maggots, when used in medicine, are disinfected and applied to wounds for therapeutic purposes.
- This controlled use of maggots can aid in cleaning wounds and promoting healing.
Maggot Control and Prevention:
9. Repellents and Removal:
- To prevent maggot infestations, using insect repellents and maintaining cleanliness is crucial.
- Methods for removing maggots include spraying repellents, using boiling water, sprinkling salt, employing natural predators (pets), and, in extreme cases, using force.
10. Maggot Therapy in Medicine:
- Clean and disinfected maggots are used in medical therapy to consume dead tissues around wounds, potentially aiding in the healing process.
- Maggot therapy should only be conducted under professional medical supervision.
Additional Information:
11. Nature's Purpose:
- Despite their negative perception, maggots serve a purpose in nature by contributing to the breakdown of organic matter and maintaining ecological balance.
12. Intelligence and Perception:
- Maggots are believed to lack intelligence and perception of what is filthy or not; they consume what is available without discernment.
In summary, maggots play multifaceted roles in nature, from environmental cleaners to potential contributors in medical therapy, while also posing risks, particularly when infesting human bodies. Understanding their behavior, preferences, and control methods is crucial for managing their presence effectively.
