What is a common misconception about the origin of maggots?

The common misconception that maggots appear spontaneously from decaying meat stems from historical beliefs about spontaneous generation, a theory that living organisms could arise from non-living matter. This idea was prevalent until experiments, notably those conducted by Louis Pasteur, demonstrated that microorganisms, which lead to the development of maggots, come from existing organisms, particularly flies that lay their eggs on decomposing material. Thus, rather than emerging spontaneously, maggots are the larval stage of flies, specifically known as blowflies or flesh flies, which are attracted to decaying organic matter to deposit their eggs. Understanding this process helps clarify the life cycle of these organisms and emphasizes the importance of actual biological interactions rather than mythical origins in the development of maggots.