Maggots form from the eggs laid by adult flies, typically common houseflies or blowflies. The process begins when a female fly lays eggs-often around 75 to 150 at a time-on decaying organic matter such as rotting food, garbage, animal carcasses, or feces, which provide a suitable environment and food source for the larvae
. The eggs are very small, resembling tiny grains of rice, and usually hatch within 7 to 24 hours into larvae, which are called maggots. These maggots look like small, legless worms with tube-like mouths and hooks that help them feed and move around
. Maggots feed on the decaying material, growing rapidly and molting (shedding their outer skin) several times over 3 to 6 days
. After this feeding stage, maggots enter the pupa stage, where they form a protective shell and undergo metamorphosis to become adult flies. This transformation takes about 10 days, and once the adult fly emerges, it begins the cycle anew by finding food sources and laying eggs
. In summary, maggots form when flies lay eggs on suitable decaying material, the eggs hatch into larvae (maggots), which feed and grow before transforming into flies
