'They just look freaky'

2006-04-19 08:00

Matt Saville

Pietermaritzburg - "They don't spread diseases. They don't bite, don't sting but just look a little freaky." This is what Greg Davies, junior curator and entomologist at the Natal Museum said about "rat-tailed maggots" which are the larvae of flower-flies and have caused revulsion and concern in the city following their appearance in various locations over the past week.

A source at the municipality dismissed further claims by a number of people around the city that the maggots had come out of their taps at home.

"On the basis of information gathered which indicates that their natural habitat is polluted streams and decaying vegetation on the edge of ponds, it is impossible that these 'maggots' came out of the water reticulation system."

He said that the high pressure of water in the system as well as the presence of chlorine in the water would make it impossible for the rat-tailed maggots to survive in order to emerge from a tap intact.

Davies said it would be "exceedingly surprising" for the larvae to come out of taps. Adults lay eggs in stagnant water, he said, adding that the larvae are filter-feeders which live off bacteria and micro-organisms. He said the health risk they pose is negligible or non-existent.

"At the adult stage they are quite attractive. They have yellow abdomens striped with black and mimic honey bees," he said adding that the adults are important pollinators.

The source at the municipality said the heavy rains experienced of late have meant that there are a great number of stagnant pools. These are perfect breeding sites for the rat-tailed maggots, he said.

- The Witness