The US government is initiating a program to breed and release billions of sterilized flies to combat the new world screwworm, a flesh-eating pest threatening the beef industry and wildlife. This technology involves the release of adult male flies, which, after mating with females, result in unviable eggs, thus reducing the overall fly population. This method is deemed more effective and environmentally friendly than traditional spraying. The USDA is setting up facilities to breed and distribute these sterilized flies, anticipating a new factory operational by July 2026 and a distribution center in Texas by year-end.
The US government is preparing to breed billions of flies and dump them out of airplanes over Mexico and southern Texas to combat the flesh-eating maggot, a significant threat to the beef industry and wildlife.
It's an exceptionally good technology...a great solution in terms of translating science to solve some kind of large problem. The targeted pest is the flesh-eating larva of the new world screwworm fly.
The USDA plans to ramp up the breeding and distribution of adult male flies, sterilizing them with radiation before releasing them to reduce the fly population effectively.
Females lay their eggs in wounds and exposed mucus, threatening livestock significantly, with estimates suggesting that a thousand-pound bovine can die within two weeks from this pest.
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