How to Get Rid of Maggots on Patio? | 8 Eco-Friendly Methods!

A patio provides us with a serene environment where we can enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of our nature.
And maggots are far from mesmerizing.
These horrifying creatures are best at ruining the peace of the whole place.
As we are always eager to help you out with your home-related problems, today you’ll learn how to get rid of maggots on patio.
Our patio allows our family to relax and enjoy time together. It’s also where our children love to play, and our pets can roam freely. Therefore, using harmful or toxic insecticides to kill maggots on your patio is not a good idea.
In view of that, all the methods featured in this article are 100% natural and eco-friendly.
Moreover, we’ll also discuss some preventive measures to keep these creatures gone for good!
So, let’s begin.

Get to Know Maggots | Their Life Cycle!

In simple terms, maggots are hatched fly eggs.
Yes, the same nasty circling flies that never wish to leave you alone when you are enjoying your outdoor patio time. Nevertheless, maggots are fly larvae, and these wingless creatures will soon turn into their winged counterparts.
Let’s take a brief look at their life cycle.
You might already know that common houseflies live for around 15–30 days, and like every other living organism, they reproduce to ensure the survival of their species—and they are crazy good at that!

1. The life cycle of a fly starts after sexual reproduction; after mating with a male fly, the female fly lays eggs.
2. These eggs hatch within 24 hours and release fly larvae. These larvae are commonly referred to as maggots and look like pale white worms.
3. After molting, the larvae turn into pupae. Remember something from your biology class? This pupae stage is like the transition stage of a caterpillar into a butterfly. The fly is dormant in this stage and forms a shell around itself to grow its wings, legs, and antennae.
4. When fully grown, the flies break out of the shell!

Isn’t nature fascinating?
Here’s a brief illustration of the entire cycle:

Why Are There Maggots on Your Patio? | Look for the Source!

Now that you know what maggots are, it’s time to clarify why these uninvited guests enter your patio without permission.
You know why I discussed the whole life cycle of a fly before this section?
If you see maggots on your patio, that means some flies have previously laid eggs nearby that hatched into larvae. And now, you know that you’ll also need to remove the sources attracting flies to your patio to prevent maggot infestation in the long run.
Flies lay eggs in warm and humid places where they think the larvae will find enough food and moisture.
Here, you’re looking at the following:

1. Dirty outdoor cooking or eating areas
2. Mold or algae
3. Open garbage cans
4. Dead or decaying plant and animal matter
5. Pet food or pet droppings
6. Standing water
7. And outdoor compost piles

Make best efforts to eliminate these potential sources that house and nourish flies’ eggs leading them to turn into maggots.

Health Risks Associated with Maggots on Patios!

While flies are well-known for spreading a plethora of different diseases, there is no evidence that their larvae pose any health risks whatsoever.

How to Get Rid of Maggots on Patio? | The Stepwise Methods!

Finally, you are ready to apply our tried and tested methods to eliminate these nasty maggots on your patio.
This section will discuss all the natural methods to remove maggots from your property.

1: Manual Removal of Maggots

The first and the most straightforward method is to remove them manually.
You can pick up maggots from your patio in many ways.
You can:

1. Use a vacuum cleaner paired with a hose attachment to suck up all the maggots. This method is the most hassle-free and will instantly remove all the larvae. Just make sure to properly seal and discard the vacuum cleaner bag afterward.
2. If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner, you can use a simple broom and a dustpan to collect all the maggots and throw them into a trash bag. Properly seal and discard the bag in this case as well.
3. If just a small number of maggots are wandering on your patio, you can pick them up using tweezers. Just pick them up in a plastic bag and throw them away. This method also works if you want to remove maggots from your pets.

All these methods are easy and effective.
However, remember to wear gloves and properly seal and dispose of the bags carefully afterward to prevent further infestation.

2: Use of Boiling Water

This method is also pretty basic.
Here are the steps:

1. Boil a pot of water on a stove or use an electric kettle to bring water to a boil.
2. Carefully take this boiling water to the area of infestation.
3. Prudently pour the water over the place and make sure to cover all the maggots.
4. Once all the larvae are dead, use a broom and dustpan to collect and dispose of them.

Boiling water will kill all of them instantly.
However, you might need to repeat the process for a more significant infestation.
PORTFOLIO TIP: Boiling water can cause severe burns. Therefore, stay vigilant while performing this method and gradually pour the water to avoid any splashes. Also, it would be best to wear gloves and long sleeves while managing stuff like this to prevent bruises.
Also, don’t opt for this method if maggots reside on a wooden floor or patio furniture. Most patio flooring is delicate and prone to damage by hot water.

3: Use of Salt

Salt is a natural dehydrator.
Do you remember I mentioned that flies like to lay their eggs in humid places? That’s because their larvae need water to survive.

1. If you pour a hefty amount of salt over maggots and wait for a few hours, it will dehydrate them to death!
2. Once they are all dead, you can collect them and throw them away in a sealed trash bag.

The whole process is just effortless.
However, there’s one thing that you must know…Large quantities of salt can harm plants and grass—be careful when pouring salt where you don’t want to kill any vegetation.

4. Use of Vinegar Solution

Dilute vinegar solution is also effective against maggots.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle or a can. For instance, if you have one cup of vinegar, dilute it with one cup of water and use this solution.
2. Spray or pour this solution directly on the maggots and cover them entirely. The process can take at least 30 minutes up to an hour to kill all the larvae.
3. Once they are all dead, dispose of the carcasses, and scrub the place thoroughly.
4. Rinse the area with water and remove any residual vinegar.

Vinegar is acidic; it kills the larvae by decreasing their pH.
PORTFOLIO TIP: Vinegar is acidic and may damage your patio flooring or decking if left for an extended period. Therefore, it is better to first test the surface using an infinitesimal amount of the solution before you apply it to the whole area.
Also, if you have sensitive skin, make sure to wear protective coverings to avoid skin irritation.

5: Use of Neem Oil

Neem oil is a well-known botanical insecticide.
You can make a neem oil spray to kill maggots on your patio:

1. Dilute a tablespoon of concentrated neem oil in a gallon of water.
2. Pour this solution into a spray bottle and spray it over the maggots.
3. Be sure to cover all of them in the entire area.
4. After a few hours, when all the larvae are dead, sweep them into a dustpan and throw them away in a sealed plastic bag.

Neem oil works by distressing the digestive systems of the maggots, eventually leading them to die.
But be careful!
Neem oil can also harm beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. Therefore, be prudent while using it. You’ll also need to stay cautious while applying neem oil spray to delicate patio areas prone to getting damaged.

6: Use of Essential Oils

Essential oils like Vetiver, Cinnamon, and Lavender and their blends are found to be toxic to fly larvae. Some other essential oils that are effective against maggots are Tea tree oil, Eucalyptus oil, and Peppermint oil.
Follow these steps to kill maggots using essential oil sprays:

1. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a gallon of water.
2. Pour this solution into a spray bottle.
3. Thoroughly spray the larvae with your oil solution.
4. Wait for a few hours to let all the maggots die.
5. Once all of them are dead, dispose of them in a plastic bag.

Some pets might find these essential oils irritating. So, keep them away while carrying out the mission!

7: Use of Natural Predators

Using natural predators can also effectively eliminate maggots on your patio without using chemical insecticides.
Here are some natural predators that can help you get rid of nasty maggots:

• Birds such as crows, seagulls, and magpies can help you keep your patio free from flies and hence maggots. These birds love to feed on insects and insect larvae. You can attract them to your property by installing bird feeders and birdbaths near the area.
• Nematodes are microscopic worms that feed on various insects, including maggots. You can buy them online or from your local gardening stores. To eliminate the larvae using nematodes, mix them in water and spray the mixture over the area.
• There are a lot of predatory insects that feed on maggots. They include ladybugs, lacewings, and ground beetles. You can invite these insects into your garden by planting attractive flowers like dill, yarrow, fennel, etc.

However, this method is pretty slow.
PORTFOLIO TIP: It would be best to opt for this method as a cherry on top of other methods because if you want to remove the maggots from your patio instantly, this is not the way to go.

8: Use Diatomaceous Earth

For our final method, we are going to use diatomaceous earth to kill these nasty maggots.
What is diatomaceous earth?
I would have added this one in the natural predator section as well, but it’s actually non-living remains of once-living organisms. Diatomaceous earth is a type of sedimentary rock made from the fossil remains of aquatic organisms called diatoms.
How will it kill maggots?

It works similarly to salt but has a hidden trick up its sleeves. In addition to dehydrating the larvae, sharp edges of powdery diatomaceous earth can cut through their exoskeleton, thus killing them.
To conduct the process:

• Start with wearing gloves and a dust mask to prevent inhaling the powder.
• Sprinkle a generous amount of diatomaceous earth powder over the area of infestation.
• Leave it for a few hours, or maybe overnight, and let it do its work.
• Once the maggots are dead, sweep them into a dustpan, and dispose of them in a sealed trash bag.

Remember not to use diatomaceous earth on moist surfaces—it works best when dry. Also, keep your pets away from the area as they might inhale it.

That’s all!
Now you know how to get rid of maggots on patio.
Let’s look at some preventive measures.

Preventive Measures!

Following are some preventive measures that you can take to avoid maggot infestation on your patio in the future:

1. Properly disposed food waste; open food waste is a perfect breeding spot for flies and provides an ideal place to lay eggs.
2. Waste disposal is not enough if done improperly; properly sealing garbage bags and keeping the lids of your trash cans closed is the proper way to go. It will prevent flies from wandering around the garbage cans.
3. Regularly cleaning your patio provides you with a healthy and hygienic environment. Such an environment prevents larval infestations to a great extent.
4. Use insect-repellent sprays, candles, and herbs to keep circling flies away from your patio. If no flies come to your patio, there will be no maggots to be concerned about.
5. Use insect screens and seal any gaps or cracks to prevent flies from entering your home and causing a potential larval infestation indoors.