Rat-Tailed Maggots: What They Indicate? Do They Turn Into Flies?

Rat-tailed maggots are interesting because they look different. Some wonder if they have the same fate as the other larvae. In this article, we will get into details to know more about these insects.

Where Do Rat-Tailed Maggots Come From?

Rat-tailed maggot is the immature larval stage of a fly that resembles a honey bee. The 3/4-inch long whitish larvae are different from other fly maggots because it has a 1/2-inch long "tail," which they use as a breathing tube in the water.

Red-tailed maggots are the aquatic larval stage of certain species of Hoverflies. They got their names for their long, thin posterior appendage, which resembles a hairless tail of a rat. The appendage is a specialized respiratory organ that works like an air siphon.

Dr. Erica McAlister told IFLScience that they are the larval stage of many hoverfly species (Syrphidae) in the tribes Eristalini.

They are usually found in dark and decaying environments like compost, margins of ponds, and tree rot holes because they feast on the decomposing material, which is oxygen-poor but organic-rich.

Rot-tailed maggots are not the most appealing insect you'll ever see. If you see them, you should not bother them because they are champions for the environment as babies and adults.

McAlister said hoverflies are incredibly important in the ecosystem for several reasons.

Are Rat-Tailed Maggots Rare?

Rat-tailed maggots are species-rich and abundant. They are not rare because rat-tail maggots can occur in surprisingly large numbers.

The larvae are not only recyclers but also predators.

Most of them are aphidophagous, feeding on aphids and their kin, providing great ecosystem and agricultural services in keeping plant-feeding insects in check.

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Do Rat-Tailed Maggots Turn Into Flies?

Rat-tailed maggots are the larval form for several species, depending on who laid them as an egg. Like all flies, they will undergo complete metamorphosis from an egg to an adult form.

They emerge as larvae and pupate after. The pupal stage is fascinating because it's when they develop legs, wings, and genitalia, which are the essential structures for their adulthood.

During the adult stage, they are nectar feeders and excellent pollinators. Rat-tailed maggots can become a range of hoverflies - bog hoverflies, batman hoverflies. A hoverfly is a large fly with a hairy body. However, they are occasionally mistaken for bees.

Adults are called bee flies because they resemble honey bees. However, they are rarely seen. They do not remain around breeding sites like house flies do. Instead, they visit flowers for nectar. They go to decaying odors where they may lay eggs. These flies neither bite nor sting and do not carry diseases.

So, to answer the question if rat-tailed maggots can turn into flies, the answer is "yes" because they turn into hover flies, which belong to the family Syrphidae, one of the three major groups of flies. Some of the families within the group include Phoridae (coffin flies), Conopidae (big-headed flies), and Tephritidae (fruit flies).

What Do Rat-Tailed Maggots Indicate?

Rat-tailed maggots may be disgusting, but they are harmless. Although they do not cause damage, they indicate that contaminated water is nearby, according to Pestium UK.

It's best never to drink water where rat-tailed maggots are found. You should also keep pets and farm animals away from stagnated water with rat-tailed maggots.

The easiest way to prevent or control rat-tailed maggots is to maintain hygiene and ensure that water does not stagnate either inside or outside the house.