Fly Larva (Maggot)

Damp environments containing organic matter, such as trash cans, compost, rotting food, animal waste, or carcasses.

Decomposing organic material, bacteria, liquified proteins, and decaying plant or animal matter.

Larvae hatch from eggs and feed voraciously to build energy for pupation. They are photophobic (move away from light) and prefer moist, dark crevices.

Risks include the spread of pathogens (like Salmonella or E. coli) to surfaces and potential myiasis if they infest living tissue. Benefits include roles as primary decomposers in ecosystems and use in forensic entomology to determine time of death.