Why is US planning to breed screwworm flies & dump them from planes over Mexico?
The United States government is planning a unique and unconventional method to protect its beef industry from the flesh-eating larvae of the New World screwworm fly. The plan involves breeding billions of male flies, sterilizing them with radiation, and then dumping them from planes over Mexico and southern Texas. The male flies will not be able to reproduce with female flies, causing the population to die out and ultimately eliminating the threat to the beef industry.
The New World screwworm fly, also known as Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a parasitic insect that can cause serious and potentially fatal infections in animals, including cattle, horses, and dogs. The larvae of the fly feed on the flesh of the host animal, causing myiasis, a condition characterized by the presence of live maggots in the body. The screwworm fly is a significant threat to the livestock industry, as it can cause substantial economic losses and even lead to the death of infected animals.
To combat this threat, the US government is turning to a method known as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). SIT involves breeding large numbers of male insects that are sterilized with radiation, and then releasing them into the wild to mate with female insects. Because the male insects are sterile, they are unable to produce offspring, which leads to a decline in the population over time.
In this case, the US government plans to breed and sterilize millions of male screwworm flies, which will then be released over Mexico and southern Texas. The idea is that the male flies will mate with female flies, causing the female population to decline and eventually die out. This will prevent the screwworm fly from reproducing and spreading its larvae to animal hosts.
The US government has a history of using the Sterile Insect Technique to control insect populations. In the 1950s and 1960s, the technique was used to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly from the Hawaiian Islands, and it has also been used to control populations of the Mexican fruit fly and the Caribbean fruit fly.
The plan to breed and release sterile screwworm flies is being led by the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in collaboration with the Mexican government and the University of California, Davis. The project is expected to begin in the near future, with the goal of eliminating the screwworm fly from the region.
While the use of sterile insects to control pest populations may seem unconventional, it has been proven to be an effective method in the past. The Sterile Insect Technique has been used to control populations of a wide range of insect pests, including mosquitoes, moths, and beetles. It is a safe and environmentally friendly method that does not involve the use of pesticides or other chemicals.
In conclusion, the US government’s plan to breed screwworm flies and dump them from planes over Mexico and southern Texas is a unique and unconventional method to protect its beef industry from the flesh-eating larvae of the New World screwworm fly. The use of the Sterile Insect Technique has been proven to be an effective method in the past, and it is expected to be a key part of the effort to eliminate the screwworm fly from the region.
