Maggots are larvae of common flies. The larvae can be of gnats, houseflies, or fruit flies as well. Flies lay more than 100 eggs at one time that turn into maggots once they reach maturity.
Maggots don’t crawl and instead wiggle around.
You can identify the type of maggot by looking at its shape. For instance, the Indian meal moth larvae have a brown head and caterpillar shape. In contrast, fly larvae don’t have a head or legs.
So, why do maggots appear in the kitchen?
And what can you do to prevent maggot infestation in the kitchen? You should continue reading the blog post to find out the answers.
Reasons for Maggots in the Kitchen
Maggots are found in the kitchen as flies tend to lay eggs near their food source.
Maggots wiggle around the kitchen looking for enclosed spaces where they can pupate and turn into adults.
The tiny insects also leave food that they have been feeding behind as they move around.
Sometimes maggots crawl upwards and get in the crack in the ceiling or wall.
They will spin a silken cocoon once inside the crack. These can also pupate in the same place where they have been feeding.
The maggots can also pupate in the food itself.
Maggots can have several different feeding sites.
They can be found on rotten fruit and spoiled food in the pantry or refrigerator. The tiny insect larvae are also found inside trash cans containing spoiled food.
How to Avoid Maggot Infestation in Kitchen?
You can get rid of maggot infestation by keeping the kitchen clean.
Here are some tips if you have discovered maggot in your kitchen.
1. Use Hydrogen Peroxide Mixture
Hydrogen peroxide can be used to effectively eliminate maggots from the kitchen.
Just add about one cup of hydrogen peroxide to water. The mixture will kill the maggots as well as the eggs that have not hatched.
Moreover, the mixture also acts as a disinfectant. It will kill germs on the surface thereby making reducing the risk of illnesses.
2. Buy Electronic Fly Trap
Electronic fly traps that attract flies using UV light and kills them with electricity are available in the market.
You can use these flytraps to get rid of flies in the kitchen.
Buy automatic fly zappers that can kill flies without any effort.
Using the fly zapper will prevent flies from buzzing around the kitchen and laying eggs that form into maggots.
3. Using Natural Fly Repellents
You can also use natural fly repellents to prevent flies from infesting your kitchen.
There are many natural ingredients such as lavender, bay leaf basil, and apple cider vinegar that repel flies.
Moreover, you can use camphor smoke, citronella, and lemongrass to repel flies.
4. Make an Insecticide
You can make an insecticide using dish soap. Most commercial dish soap contains borax that kills flies.
Make a dish soap solution in a spray bottle.
You can use insecticide spray to eliminate all types of flies from your kitchen.
5. Plant Fly Repelling Plants
Certain plants repel flies.
You can place plants such as tansy, chrysanthemum, and lavender in the kitchen to prevent flies in the kitchen.
Some plants such as the Venus flytrap can also feed on the insects in the kitchen.
You must place plants near the doors and windows in the kitchen.
The plants must be close to the natural source of light and wind to thrive.
6. Cover Trash Can
You should cover the trash can in the kitchen.
Flies lay eggs on rotten food items in the dust bin.
Maggots will appear overnight in the dustbin if left uncovered. Therefore, it is recommended that you place a cover on your bin to avoid maggots and flies in the kitchen.
7. Use Boric Acid
Boric acid can be used to kill maggots. Sprinkle some over the carpet and let it sit there for about three to four hours.
Afterward, you must clean it up using a vacuum cleaner.
8. Spray Insecticide
You can spray chemicals such as permethrin and novacide to get rid of maggots from the kitchen.
Using a chemical spray can also kill other pests inside the kitchen. Make sure that you don’t spray over food items to avoid food poisoning.
Novacide prevents flies from laying eggs. The chemical is a fly cycle regulator that disturbs the growth cycle of maggots. It will kill the maggots and also make flies unable to lay eggs.
One application of Novacide protects for up to 7 months. To apply the chemical, you must hold the insecticide spray about 36 inches from the area where you will apply it.
You must move the cap in a sweeping motion to cover the entire service.
Lastly, Gentrol spray is also effective in killing maggots. The spray will also sterilize the flies that will prevent maggots from appearing in the kitchen.
It will also ensure that the larvae don’t grow into adult flies.
Apply the spray to the crevices and cracks in the walls, ceilings, and floors. Make sure that you apply at a rate of about 16 ounces per 1200 square feet surface.
9. Trap Flies
You must get rid of flies to prevent maggot formation in the kitchen. One effective way to get rid of flies is to trap them in a jar containing apple cider vinegar.
Fill a jar about halfway with vinegar. You should also mix dish soap as it will reduce the surface tension that will prevent trapped gnat to escape. Cover the jar with a lid and poke small holes using a screw.
Leave the jar in the kitchen overnight.
The flies that enter the jar will become trapped and die. Getting rid of the flies will solve the maggot problem in the kitchen.
You can also use a plastic bottle if you can’t find a jar.
Cut a 2-liter plastic in half and add apple cider vinegar to the lower half of the bottle. Now place the top part down the base of the bottle.
The plastic bottle will look like a funnel. Flies will follow the scent of the vinegar and get trapped. They won’t get out through the narrow tip of the bottle.
If apple cider vinegar is not available, you can also use coke or mashed banana. Anything with a sweet taste will attract flies to the trap.
10. Keep the Kitchen Surface Clean
Flies lay eggs on damp surfaces that hatch about a day after being laid. To prevent maggot formation, you must keep the kitchen counter clean.
You should mop tiles right after a spill.
Moreover, you must pick up food debris after preparing the food. Common surfaces where maggots tend to thrive include sinks, cabinets, and countertops that should be kept clean at all times.
You should keep these surfaces dry to prevent maggot infestation in the kitchen.
If you find maggots, you should get clean up the surface and then use a disinfectant over the area.
Disinfecting the surface is important to kill bacteria or viruses on the kitchen surface.
11. Clean the Refrigerator
Flies often lay eggs in rotten food items in the refrigerator.
You should dispose of food items that are not packaged properly. Sniff food items to see if they are still fit to eat. If the food looks rotten, you must throw it out.
You should scrub food residue on the wall of the refrigerator.
A damp rug and all-purpose cleaner can be used to clean the inside of the refrigerator. Make sure that you unplug the refrigerator before cleaning it.
If you still encounter any flies or maggots after cleaning, they might be hiding in the small holes inside the refrigerator.
To get rid of flies, you should place an empty bottle and fill it with apple cider vinegar or any sweet syrup. Rub dish soap around the bottle’s neck and mouth. Cover the bottle with a cap and poke small holes.
The flies will get trapped inside thereby eliminating them from the kitchen refrigerator.
Final Remarks
Maggots appear in a kitchen that is not cleaned properly.
They are the larvae stage of tiny flies that infest the kitchen. The sight of the maggots can be repulsive. Watching them slither around in the kitchen can be disgusting.
You must not ignore maggot infestation in the kitchen.
Eating food items contaminated with fly larvae or maggots can lead to intestinal myiasis. The disease leads to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Always keep your kitchen clean at all times.
You must cover the trash can with a lid to avoid maggot formation. Flies lay eggs on rotting food items in the trash can. Also, they lay eggs on pet foods. So, you must not just top up the pet food but change it fully twice a day.
Take out the garbage at the end of the day.
Moreover, you should clean the garbage can thoroughly to prevent maggot formation. If you follow the instructions in this blog post, you won’t have to deal with maggot formation in the kitchen.
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