Fly larvae are generally called maggots. They can be slightly brown to creamy in colour and have a dark mark-like breathing hole in their rear. Flies lay their eggs on rubbish and the eggs can hatch into larvae within 24 hours. The eggs go from larvae to pupa and then into flies. It takes around two weeks for the larvae to convert into flies. This means that the larvae will live around your home for about 2 weeks before they turn into flies.
It is common knowledge that flies are attracted to food waste out in the open or open rubbish bins, or a dead animal nearby may be attracting flies and in turn maggots. In order to avoid maggot infestation, you must keep your surroundings clean and dispose of wasted food in plastic bags or keep the rubbish bins covered at all times, and look around your property if there are any dead animals if there are get rid of them.
The presence of maggots in your home is a nuisance and gives the impression of an unclean environment around the house. Here is what you can do to make sure there is no maggot infestation in your home.
- Invest in wheelie bins, they are a great way to dispose of your rubbish and keep the lid tightly closed so that the flies cannot get in. When the bin is full just wheel it away from your house and near the street where the sanitation workers can take it away.
- If you have pets try to give them only enough food so that there are no leftovers, uncovered pet food in the open air can attract flies and in turn, you can get maggots.
- Clean out food packaging before throwing them out, including fish cans, and trays, and take away food boxes.
- One easy way to make sure there aren’t any flies in your home to lay eggs is to get a fly spray and spray it every few days around your home just in case.
In conclusion, if you do not want maggots in your house make sure you keep it clean and make sure the garbage is handled correctly.
If the infestation has spread to the whole house you may need to call a professional pest control service such as Pests of London.