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Fighting a Flesh-Eating Nightmare

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Author Alana Theron, BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology

Image by Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

In a bold plan to protect American livestock and wildlife, the US is preparing to release billions of sterilized New World screwworm flies into the environment. These flesh-eating maggots once caused devastation across the southern US, but experts believe a flood of sterile males could wipe them out for good.

A Pest That Eats Animals Alive

Image by Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The New World screwworm is not your typical pest—it lays eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals. When the larvae hatch, they burrow into flesh, causing horrific injuries and sometimes death. Outbreaks threaten cattle, deer, and even rare species like Florida’s endangered Key deer.

A Proven but Surprising Solution

Image by Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Decades ago, scientists discovered that releasing sterile male screwworms could collapse the population. The males mate with wild females, but no offspring are produced, breaking the reproductive cycle. This technique successfully eradicated screwworms from the US in the 1960s and parts of Central America.

Why the Maggots Are Back

Image by John Kucharski, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2016, a fresh outbreak of screwworm in Florida’s Key deer population served as a chilling reminder of the pest’s destructive power. Without constant vigilance, the flies could return and spread rapidly. That’s why the US Department of Agriculture is ramping up its sterile fly program.

Breeding Billions to Save Millions

Image by Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In a special facility in Panama, billions of screwworm flies are raised and sterilized using radiation. Planes then release them over areas at risk of infestation. This carpet-bombing of sterile flies overwhelms the population and keeps the deadly maggots from gaining a foothold.

A Continuing Battle Against Nature’s Horrors

Image by Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Though it might sound like science fiction, sterile insect release has saved countless animals and billions of dollars in agricultural losses. By dumping sterile flies from the sky, the US hopes to keep the screwworm at bay—and ensure that America’s livestock and wildlife are safe from one of nature’s most gruesome parasites.

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