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Maggots. Many people find them disgusting and some just can’t stand the sight of them. Then comes the question, how do you get rid of maggots? Here, you’ll find the answers.
So, how to get rid of maggots? Here are five different ways to get rid of maggots.
- 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. However, you must clean up their remains from the moment they die.
- 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 to 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 to 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.
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Maggots are easier to get rid of because they do not have wings or legs for mobility and escaping.
They usually only wriggle around slowly, giving you just enough time to get rid of them before they find the right places to hide.
It is important that you get rid of maggots immediately before they can hide and turn into flies.
When they become adult flies, there is a chance that you might find more maggots in your area.
Aside from these five methods, you can also get “rid” of maggots and flies by avoiding what attracts them in the first place. Find out what causes maggots and you can prevent them.
How to prevent maggots and flies
Maggots are born from flies. If a fly comes in and successfully laid eggs around your area, maggots will appear after 24 hours.
If you know what prevents flies, you are also preventing maggots. After all, prevention is better than cure.
Here are the things that attracts flies and maggots – the things you must avoid.
- Garbage
- Flies usually find food inside garbage bins. They consume food such as fermented fruits, spoiled meat, overripe fruits and vegetables. This is why we must keep the garbage lid closed and shut off properly in order to avoid making flies swarm over the bin.
- Feces
- Flies, almost all kinds of them, consume feces from nearly any kind of animal. This is also the reason why they carry so many bacteria and develop various transmittable diseases.
- Plants
- Certain plants such as mint, sunflowers and daises attract flies for consumption purposes. Flies may also drink from plants and lay their eggs on plants. Sometimes, they just simply land on plants to rest for a while.
- Carcasses
- Consuming carcasses is another way for these flies to fill their stomachs and they also lay their eggs on carcasses so that once the egg hatches, the larvae will have something to feed on the moment they are born.
- Liquid substances
- Spilled soda and juices from fruits can be very inviting for these flies. Not only are they able to hydrate themselves through these consumable liquids, they are also satisfied by the sweet flavor it contains.
- Unattended food
- It is true that they still come near unattended food but without human intervention, they can feast on the food without worry of getting caught by human traps and other animals too. They are opportunistic and therefore, they will take what they can.
- Warm temperatures
- Like
other animals and insects, flies are also quite weak against the cold.
They thrive better under warm temperatures and thus will seek places
that are warm to keep their bodies functioning under normal
circumstances.
In the winter, they suspend the activities in their bodies in a way that allows them to survive but some of them usually lay their eggs on winter so the larvae can hatch by spring.
- Like
other animals and insects, flies are also quite weak against the cold.
They thrive better under warm temperatures and thus will seek places
that are warm to keep their bodies functioning under normal
circumstances.
- Light sources
- Flies have a natural attraction towards light because of positive phototaxis, the locomotive movement that occurs when a living being moves closer or further away from a light source. This is because most whole organisms benefit from receiving light through photosynthesis.
- Other flies or insects
- The
presence of your own kind is a good sign to take that you are welcome
at that place. When one fly sees another or even a similar insect, it
will make it seem as if they are safe around that area.
Some will also intentionally seek companionship from other flies in order to breed.
- The
presence of your own kind is a good sign to take that you are welcome
at that place. When one fly sees another or even a similar insect, it
will make it seem as if they are safe around that area.
- Unkempt rooms
- An unkempt room is more likely to have unattended food, unnoticed carcasses or feces of small animals that could have been lurking around the room unknowingly and can be a safe resting place for the flies including their eggs if they are about to lay their eggs.
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Why you should get rid of maggots
If you can’t stand maggots, there are more reasons why you should get rid of them. Maggots are dangerous to our health, as well as for other animals in your household such as cats or dogs.
They could infest your pet’s body or bring in transmittable diseases. Here are the things a maggot can do to your health, giving you more reasons to get rid of them immediately.
- Why you should get rid of maggots:
- Causes irritation (skin infections)
- Allergic reactions
- Myiasis
- High fever attacks
- Stomachache
- Food poisoning – vomiting, nausea
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty in breathing
- Swollen skin, swollen face
- Facial edema
- Uncontrolled weight loss
- Random body pain
- Risk of getting mild to severe deafness and blindness
- Anosmia (losing your sense of smell)
- Epidemic Conjunctivitis
You can learn more about how dangerous maggots can be at: “Are Maggots Dangerous?“
Related Questions
Will vinegar kill maggots?
Yes, vinegar will kill maggots but you might need to soak maggots in vinegar and leave them covered in vinegar to ensure that it will take effect. If there is not enough vinegar, a maggot may survive or remain unaffected.
What kills maggots instantly?
Maggots can instantly die from boiling water, according to most encounters. Some may even add bleach or vinegar and mix it with the boiling water. The added substances will burn the flesh of maggots and lead to instant death.
Can maggots live in your carpet?
Yes, maggots can live in your carpet. However, they won’t be staying there. Chances are, there are maggots in your carpet because it contains a source of food for maggots. Remove the maggots and clean the carpet, including the surrounding area of the carpet