#sterile-insect-technique

#sterile-insect-technique

In 1991, the Mexican state of Chiapas was the epicenter of the first eradication of the cattle screwworm infestation in history. An old sterile fly plant, which operated for about seven years in Chiapa de Corzo about nine miles from the capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez once produced millions of flies that achieved that initial victory over the pest. Now, 34 years later, the same disease is causing alarm in North and Central America.

The main method to wipe out screwworms is the sterile insect technique (SIT), exploiting their life cycle weakness, as they tend to only mate once.