US Plans to Breed Flies to Fight Pest

The United States government is preparing an unusual strategy to combat a dangerous pest known as the New World Screwworm fly. This plan involves breeding billions of flies and releasing them over Mexico and southern Texas.

The screwworm fly is a serious threat because its larvae feed on the living flesh of animals, including cattle, wildlife, and pets. To counter this pest, scientists will use a method called the Sterile Insect Technique. They will breed male flies, sterilize them with radiation, and then release them into the wild.

When these sterile males mate with wild females, the eggs laid won't hatch, gradually reducing the pest population. This environmentally friendly approach has been successful in the past, eradicating the screwworm fly from areas north of Panama. The U.S. Department of Agriculture aims to have a new fly breeding facility operational in southern Mexico by July 2026.