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Maggots forming

22 11:13:35

Question
Sarah,
I saw that on 8/7/2006, you wrote that (maggots can hatch from eggs in only a few hours in warm weather and optimum conditions).
Can you provide more information as to the conditions necessary for maggots to form in an open wound and may I quote you in a paper I am writing for English class? Basically, I am trying to prove that if an animal was injured in 95+ degree temperature, that maggots could form quickly (6-8 hours)


Answer
Warm temperatures, moist environment, and good food supply are generally the optimal conditions for maggots hatching out. 95+ degree temperatures are definitely a great temperature for maggots, especially if they are somewhere moist. I will say that I have cleaned a rabbits cage (a doe with a large litter of babies, so lots of urine and feces produced each day) in the morning (completely cleaned out, new litter, etc.), and there were maggots in it by the end of the afternoon. I know they did not appear from any of the other cages, as they were not attached and there was no cage above it where the maggots could have fallen down into the cage.

You may quote me.