How Do Maggots Turn Into Flies?
WouterIt’s not entirely clear how flies transform from maggots to flies. The process is called metamorphosis, and it happens before the flies actually enter the fly stage of development. Unlike what most people believe, maggots don’t transform into flies, they turn into maggots, and vice versa.
Maggots are born from flies that lay eggs. After four days, the eggs hatch, and the maggots begin the transformation process. This process can take up to ten days. If the maggots survive this stage, they’ll turn into adult flies. Once they’re old enough to lay eggs, the flies can repeat the process over again.
Maggots are the larval stage of the fly, and they feed on unsanitary and rotting food. Maggots are the main source of food for birds and reptiles. If they’re plentiful enough, they can survive many predators. During their larval stage, the house fly spends five days storing energy in their bodies and looking for dark, dry places to live. After their larvae stage, they’ll start developing dark shells over their white bodies to protect them from predators.
Female house flies lay eggs on damp surfaces, like decomposing organic matter. The eggs are white and legless. The larvae feed on the eggs for three to five days, then they seek out a dark place to pupate. The pupae will eventually develop wings and legs, and eventually become fully grown adult house flies. They usually live for fifteen to twenty-five days.
