What Causes Maggots in Trash Cans?
Almost every day, we will have to deal with trash cans. On many occasions, we can find maggots while opening the lid. This primarily happens during the summer seasons. Keep in mind that your trash can offers a perfect breeding ground for the insect. Maggots are difficult to deal with and are very disgusting. You will have to find a way in order to prevent maggot infestation. Here is all you need to know about what causes maggots in trash cans.
How do Maggots Develop?
It is important to know what maggots are. You may have seen flies buzzing around. Maggots are actually little flies that hatch out of eggs. A female fly, during its lifetime of around 30 days, can lay about 500 eggs. They prefer to lay their eggs in decaying organic matter including trash cans. When the eggs hatch, it becomes larvae or a maggot. The maggot then feeds on the decaying matter for almost a month before it enters another stage to transform into a fly.
Why Do Maggots Select Trash Can?
A female fly will prefer a perfect spot to lay her eggs. However, maggots require a source of protein to grow and survive. Even though it looks like a small grain of rice, it prefers eating the carcass of that animal. Any left-out food or consistent mess attracts flies. We can say that a trash can is a perfect spot for breeding maggots. Apart from this, a trash can offers warmth and protection to the maggots. It is a perfect home for a growing maggot and offers them food and shelter.
Why Are Flies Attracted To Trash Cans?
One of the main things that you should know is why flies love your trash can. During hot weather conditions, when there is excess humidity, leftover food can come up with an odor. This can be very appealing to the insect and in a short time, flies select it as their breeding ground. The female fly will not waste a movement to dispose of the eggs which then transforms into maggots in a quick time.
How to Get Rid of Maggots?
We have seen how a maggot can infest your trash can. The primary way to get rid of the maggots will be to remove the trash and make the can empty. Always remove all the debris and clean the trash can. For cleaning, you can use vinegar solution as well as boiling water.
Follow it by this infecting the trash can and clean it with soap and water. Make sure that you allow the trash can to dry completely before you add trash. If you don’t want to try home remedies, then you can even go for insecticides which are easily available.
Preventing Maggots
Try to prevent future infestations of the maggot. For this, you will have to clean the container every week. Always seal the trash so that flies will not be able to enter. You will have to do it all the time to prevent odor. When you dispose of food items, it can attract the pest.
