US Government Plans to Breed Billions of Sterile Flies to Combat Flesh-Eating Maggot Threat

it plans to produce billions of sterile flies and release them from airplanes over areas in Mexico and southern Texas. This initiative targets the new world screwworm fly's larvae, known for causing severe damage to the beef industry, as well as posing a risk to pets and wildlife. Experts like Edwin Burgess, an assistant professor at the University of Florida, endorse this method, highlighting its effectiveness and environmentally friendly nature compared to traditional pest control strategies.

The new world screwworm fly's larvae are particularly harmful, as they prefer to lay their eggs in the wounds of warm-blooded animals, including cows. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is ramping up efforts to breed and distribute these sterile male flies, which will be irradiated before release. The idea is that when these sterilized males mate with wild females, the females will lay unviable eggs, leading to a gradual decline in the screwworm population. This technique has seen success in the past, where over 94 billion sterile flies were released to eliminate the pest in North America.

Looking ahead, the USDA anticipates that a new fly breeding facility in southern Mexico will be operational by 2026, along with a distribution center in southern Texas. This proactive approach follows the recent emergence of the screwworm in southern Mexico and demonstrates the urgency, as the pest poses a real threat to the beef industry. Experts warn that infestation can quickly lead to fatal conditions in infected animals. While veterinarians can treat infested livestock, it often comes too late to prevent suffering.

Historically, the new world screwworm was a seasonal issue, unable to survive harsh winters, but keepers remember the immense impact it had. The USDA's new initiative will require effective mass breeding, increasing capacity significantly beyond the capabilities of existing facilities in Panama. The USDA is investing substantial funds into creating and maintaining these fly factories, ensuring they can produce enough sterile flies to outnumber wild females, given that these flies only mate once in their lifetimes.

Eliminating the risk of fertile flies escaping the breeding facilities is critical for this operation's success. The logistics of releasing thousands of flies from aircraft have been tested multiple times, although there are dangers involved, as evidenced by a recent crash incident during a fly release operation. Experts advocate for maintaining these facilities even after successful eradication efforts, acknowledging that complacency could lead to a resurgence of the screwworm problem.