Maggot Jar

$10 - $15 (based on 2020 prices)

Makes one jar

Little details can have the biggest impact in a haunt, reinforcing the theme and keeping guests intrigued. This is why I spend part of the building process creating small items, like this maggot jar to nestle next to the medical cabinets of severed limbs and organs in 2020’s laboratory.

• One 1.25 oz. glass jar with lid
• One 8 oz. can of oil-based interior wood stain in red chestnut*
• One bag of maggots (roughly fifty insects per bag)
• One 0.3 fluid ounce bottle of red food coloring*
• One 4 oz. bottle of clear, all-purpose tacky glue gel*
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in metallic silver*
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat black*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat brown*
• One piece of 8” x 11.5” copy paper with biohazard labels printed on it
• At least one tablespoon of dark roasted coffee grounds
• One pan large enough to soak the copy paper
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*

1. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, paint the jar with the wood stain. Apply a thin coat and pat it with paper towels to produce a hazed appearance. Likewise, brush the opening to create the illusion of grime buildup. You do not want the coverage to be too thick, though, because it will obscure the maggots.

2. In a plastic container, pour in your desired amount of clear glue gel and slowly add red food coloring to the solution until it achieves the sanguine hue you desire. To give the blood further density, add blue food coloring and mix well. Then, roll half of the maggots in half of the blood glue (save the other halves of both for step four) and fill the jar with them, using a pair of tweezers to arrange them. You want the insects as visible as possible, so try not to cover them too much with the blood. Likewise, you do not want them to settle to the bottom, so rest the jar on its side as the glue dries to prevent this.

3. As the blood glue dries, build up layers of black and metallic silver spray paint to give the jar’s lid the look of steel. It works best to apply a base coat of black followed by sliver, working in quick bursts to allow parts of the black to remain visible. Once the spray paint dries, create a wash of brown paint and use it to add a level of grime to the lid, allowing the liquid to settle in the crevices.

4. Glue the cap to the lip of the jar, making it appear the lid has popped off and allowed the maggots to escape. For a sturdier hold, use superglue. Then, roll the second half of the maggots in the remaining blood glue and, akin to step two, arrange them in the lid using a pair of tweezers. You want it to look like they are spilling into it, so concentrate a majority of the bugs in the juncture where the jar and lid meet.

5. Add the coffee to a cup of boiling water. The longer you allow the coffee to brew, the darker the stain. Likewise, greater amounts of coffee will produce a richer stain. Since I wanted irregular spots rather than a unified discoloration, I placed the copy paper on a baking sheet, splashed coffee and grounds onto its surface, allowed the liquid to sit for a few minutes, and then moved it to a space to dry.

6. Cut out one of the label and glue it to the top of the lid. Then, tear the two ends and glue them to the sides of the jar. This will give the illusion the seal has broken as the lid popped off. You can also coat the torn ends of the label with a light layer of glue to give them further rigidity.

7. Use the remaining blood glue to accent the lid and the rim of the jar. As with steps two and four, you do not want the application to be too thick and make the maggots difficult to see.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.