Why is US planning to breed screwworm flies & dump them from planes over Mexico?
In a peculiar move to protect its beef industry, the US government is preparing to breed billions of male screwworm flies and dump them from planes over Mexico and southern Texas. The male flies will be sterilized with radiation, making them unable to reproduce with female flies, which will eventually lead to the population’s decline. This unusual method is aimed at combating the New World screwworm fly, a flesh-eating larvae that can cause significant economic losses to the cattle industry.
The New World screwworm fly, also known as Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a parasitic insect that affects livestock, particularly cattle, sheep, and horses. The larvae of this fly feed on the flesh of these animals, causing significant damage and even death. The fly is native to Central and South America but was eradicated from the United States in the 1960s through a successful eradication program. However, in recent years, there have been reports of the fly’s reappearance in southern Texas, prompting the US government to take action.
According to a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the New World screwworm fly is a significant threat to the beef industry, with the potential to cause losses of up to $1.4 billion annually. The fly’s larvae can infest the flesh of animals, causing pain, suffering, and even death. In addition, the fly’s presence can also lead to the contamination of meat and dairy products, posing a risk to human health.
To combat this threat, the USDA has developed a plan to breed and release sterilized male screwworm flies over Mexico and southern Texas. The plan involves breeding the flies in large numbers, sterilizing them using radiation, and then releasing them in areas where the fly is present. The sterilized flies will not be able to reproduce, which will eventually lead to the decline of the population.
The US government has partnered with the Mexican government to implement this plan, which is expected to begin soon. The two countries have agreed to work together to combat the spread of the screwworm fly, with the goal of eradicating it from the region.
While the plan may seem unusual, it has been used successfully in the past to combat the spread of other insect-borne diseases. For example, the sterile insect technique (SIT) has been used to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever and Zika virus.
The SIT involves breeding large numbers of male insects, sterilizing them using radiation or chemicals, and then releasing them in areas where the insect is present. The sterilized insects do not reproduce, which eventually leads to the decline of the population.
The use of SIT to combat the screwworm fly is particularly effective because the fly has a relatively short lifespan, which means that the population can decline quickly if the sterilized flies are released in sufficient numbers.
While the US government’s plan to breed and release sterilized screwworm flies may seem unusual, it is an effective way to combat the spread of this flesh-eating larvae. The plan is expected to begin soon, and it will be interesting to see the results of this unusual method of pest control.
