Fly Larva (Maggot)
Scientific Name: Brachycera (Suborder)
Order & Family: Order: Diptera; Family: Various (commonly Muscidae or Calliphoridae)
Size: 3mm to 12mm (1/8 to 1/2 inch) depending on growth stage and species.
Natural Habitat
Found in organic decaying matter, soil, garbage, or damp areas where food sources are plentiful.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily decaying organic material, including rotting food, carcasses, or fecal matter; some species feed on plant tissue.
Behavior Patterns
They are the larval stage of flies, focusing entirely on consumption to grow quickly before pupating into adult flies. They lack legs and move by peristaltic contractions of the body.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include the spread of bacteria and pathogens or infestation of stored foods. Benefits include acting as critical decomposers in the ecosystem and their use in forensic science to determine time of death.
Identified on: 3/3/2026