Uploaded April 2018 | Updated September 2026, 12 hours ago
The rat tailed maggot is the larvae stage of the hoverfly, one of the most common being Eristalis tenax. Hover or drone flies are harmless to humans and very beneficial in the garden as they are great pollinators.
Eggs are laid in stagnant fetid water, typically in drainage ditches or the run off from piles of manure, sewerage and compost heaps. These eggs develop into larvae that are specially adapted to live in such environs - they can stay submerged feeding on the bacteria and organic matter in the water thanks to a specially adapted extendable breathing tube - what we call the rats tail.
Once they're fully grown they relocate to drier areas and enter the pupate stage - where they remain for approximately 10 days - until finally emerging as the hoverfly.
If you have them in your compost pile, or around your compost heap, they're a pretty good indicator your pile is probably too wet - saturated to the point of being anaerobic. If your pile is favouring these guys, it's definitely not an environment your worms will be happy in.
As always, I hope you enjoy the video, and thanks for watching.
Timer found at timer-timer.com I did request permission to use but did not hear back. It seems the account has not been used for several years. If it's an issue please let me know and I'll remove. Thanks.
Link to the Bristol Post Glastonbury article: bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/rat-tailed-maggots-crawling-around-147948
The rat tailed maggot is the larvae stage of the hoverfly, one of the most common being Eristalis tenax. Hover or drone flies are harmless to humans and very beneficial in the garden as they are great pollinators.
Eggs are laid in stagnant fetid water, typically in drainage ditches or the run off from piles of manure, sewerage and compost heaps. These eggs develop into larvae that are specially adapted to live in such environs - they can stay submerged feeding on the bacteria and organic matter in the water thanks to a specially adapted extendable breathing tube - what we call the rats tail.
Once they're fully grown they relocate to drier areas and enter the pupate stage - where they remain for approximately 10 days - until finally emerging as the hoverfly.
If you have them in your compost pile, or around your compost heap, they're a pretty good indicator your pile is probably too wet - saturated to the point of being anaerobic. If your pile is favouring these guys, it's definitely not an environment your worms will be happy in.
As always, I hope you enjoy the video, and thanks for watching.
Timer found at timer-timer.com I did request permission to use but did not hear back. It seems the account has not been used for several years. If it's an issue please let me know and I'll remove. Thanks.
Link to the Bristol Post Glastonbury article: bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/rat-tailed-maggots-crawling-around-147948
