Maggots are one of the more disgusting pests that can end up around your home and especially in the garage. Almost nobody likes these creepy little pests, and most homeowners will want them gone immediately.
Below, we’ll look at where these maggots may be coming from and how to get rid of them if they’ve already appeared in your garage.
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Why Are There Maggots In My Garage?
Maggots are actually the larva stage of flies. So if you have maggots, it means that flies were there at some point and laid their eggs.
Generally, flies like rotting organic material to lay their eggs.
This includes things like moist trash or compost. Some flies even lay their eggs in dead animals.
This means that any dead rodents or pests in the garage will likely attract flies, which in turn can lead to maggots.
This also means that dead rodents in attics or crawl spaces may be to blame even though you can’t easily find the animals.
How To Get Rid Of Maggots In The Garage
Now that we know maggots are actually the result of flies laying eggs, we need to remove all items that attract flies. This will therefore prevent maggots.
Below are some tips to make sure nothing in your garage is attractive for flies to come and lay their eggs, resulting in maggots.
Clean out trash cans
If you store your garbage cans in the garage, this is a prime source for maggots. Flies often get trapped in the garbage can when closed, and they may eventually lay eggs in there.
Because of this, it’s important to wash your garbage cans regularly.
Residue and liquids can build at the bottom of the can, and this is all that’s needed to create maggots.
Also, make sure all trash is bagged properly and not leaking before throwing it in the garbage can. Rinse out all recyclable containers before discarding as well.
Other sources of maggots
Things that are moist or rotting material will attract flies and create maggots.
This includes compost or old decaying vegetables. So any garden supplies or items that fit this description should be discarded.
Next is rodent or animal carcases. While this may not seem obvious, small mice and other rodents can die in very hidden places around your garage. Flies then lay their eggs in these decomposing animals.
If you’ve had a rodent problem, you may have dead rodents in areas of your garage you don’t know about.
Do a cleaning of the garage to make sure all areas are clean and there are no odors of decomposing materials that are detectable.
Control flies
Since flies are the main cause of maggots, you want to eliminate them as soon as possible.
Use fly strips or fly paper like this if you have a lot of flies around. By taking care of the flies early, you won’t end up with maggots later on.
Getting Rid Of Maggots FAQ
What kills maggots instantly?
It’s often suggested that boiling water will kill maggots instantly. Although, if they are in a trash can or other container, simply washing them away and down a street drain will work as well.
A mixture of bleach and water can also work to kill maggots. But this mixture is best used for cleaning garbage cans and other waste containers.
Why do maggots come out of nowhere?
It may seem that way, but maggots actually come from flies laying eggs. So if there are maggots, it means you had flies in that area not long ago.
If you control the flies, you will not have maggots.
Are maggots harmful to humans?
Generally no, but they can carry disease. Flies can carry disease as well, so while mostly harmless, they can be harmful in very specific circumstances.
It’s best not to take a chance and fix any maggot problem in your garage as soon as possible. The sooner you deal with pests, the easier it is to solve the problem.
If allowed to grow, the infestation can be very hard to control and may require professional extermination.
Do maggots multiply quickly
Yes. An adult fly can lay as many as 2,000 eggs at one time. Flies can live about a month, so one fly can produce 2,000 maggots all by itself. Now think of 50 or 100 flies and think of how quickly the maggots can multiply.
This is why if you suspect maggots or flies in your garage, you should address the issue as soon as possible. Within a month it can quickly grow out of control.
Will maggots disappear on their own?
Without food or water, they will die in about two days. But maggots don’t need much food or water and are only in the maggot stage for a short period of time.
Colder temperatures can slow their development, although freezing temperatures will kill them off rather quickly.
Final Thoughts On Getting Rid Of Maggots In The Garage
Let’s be honest, nobody likes the sight of maggots, especially in the garage. So it’s best to keep this from ever happening to avoid such an unsightly infestation.
To sum it up – TERRO T800 is your best option if you want to keep maggots away.
Follow the tips in this article and make sure to keep your garage clear of any materials that flies or maggots are attracted to. If you do that, you should never have to encounter maggots again.