Maggots (Fly Larvae)

Found in decaying organic matter, carrion, feces, rotting food, and sometimes in open wounds of animals or humans.

Mainly decaying organic matter, necrotic tissue, carrion, and sometimes living tissue.

Larval stage of flies; they are legless and worm-like, primarily focused on feeding and growing. They go through several instars before pupating into adult flies. They are attracted to odors from decaying matter for feeding and oviposition.

Risks: Can be pests in agriculture and homes, can transmit pathogens, and some species cause myiasis (infestation of living tissue). Benefits: Important decomposers in ecosystems, used in forensic entomology to estimate time of death, and sterile maggots are used in maggot debridement therapy (MDT) to clean wounds.