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USA Today
10-07-2025
- Health
- USA Today
The government plans to drop a horde of flies over Texas border. Here's why.
By dropping the sterile, fully developed flies, the USDA plans to prevent flesh-eating maggots from reaching the United States. Here's how. The United States plans to bring back a somewhat shocking, but very effective, campaign to fight a flesh-eating parasitic fly that's been sighted in Mexico. The plan: Breed millions of sterilized flies and drop them over the Texas-Mexican border to protect the more than $100 billion U.S. cattle and beef industry from the New World screwworm. "This can kill a thousand-pound cow in two weeks," said Dr. Michael Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. "The federal government is being very aggressive in working to contain this." It's not as crazy as it sounds. A similar effort worked well decades ago. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a release, "The U.S. has defeated NWS before and can successfully do it again." The effort works by sterilizing male screwworm flies so that when they mate with females the resulting eggs are infertile. Over time so few fertile eggs are created that the fly is eradicated altogether. An effort across the United States, Mexico and Central America that began in the 1950s was so successful this flying menace was totally eradicated north of Panama, except for a few tiny outbreaks. The U.S control program cost $32 million and was ended in the 1960s. But this past November, Mexico's Chief Veterinary Officer notified the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that a New World screwworm had been found in a cow in southern Mexico close to the border with Guatemala. This set off blazing alarm bells for the entire U.S. cattle and beef industry. So once again, USDA is ramping up its protective program to blanket the potential path of this reemerging threat onto the United States with a rain of sterile males to stop what USDA calls "a devastating pest." What is the New World Screwworm? So far, the screwworms have only been seen in Mexico. "We have not seen any screwworms cross over the border into the U.S. and we're trying hard to prevent that," said Bailey. By dropping the sterile, fully developed flies, the USDA plans to keep the maggots from ever reaching the border. The New World Screwworm, or the NWS for short, is about the size common housefly. It has orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes along their backs, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The fly gets its name for how its maggots feed on the living flesh of an animal by burrowing, or screwing, into an open wound, creating "extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service states. This results in long, deep wounds in the surrounding flesh that are also susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, causing severe pain, and potentially death if left untreated. Livestock, pets and wildlife are all threatened, as are humans in rare cases. "To give you the heebie-jeebies, you can actually see the skin moving. And it smells rank," said Bailey. Animals at greatest risk include those that have recently given birth, have open wounds, or have undergone surgery or management procedures such as dehorning or branding, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. It's dangerous enough that veterinarians are urged to wear disposable gloves when treating affected animals. How do sterile male flies help? The screwworm first became a significant problem in the United States in 1933, according to the USDA. By the early 1960s, Southeast cattle producers had lost between $50-$100 million because of screwworm infestations. Beginning in the 1950s, the federal government established the Sterile Insect Technique, a method that utilized radiation to sterilize male flies. These mass-produced sterile males were released into target areas. They mated with females, resulting in unfertilized eggs. No fertile eggs meant no more screwworms. Similar programs have been created to release sterile mosquitos. The screwworm program was a stunning success. The insect was officially eradicated in the United States by 1966, at a cost of $32 million to complete – protecting the U.S. cattle and beef industry, worth more than $80 billion today. With the screwworm's return to Mexico, USDA on June 18 announced the launch an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas. It's anticipated to begin producing sterile males by the end of the year. In addition, USDA is working with Mexico to begin producing sterile screwworms. The agency is investing $21 million to renovate an existing fruit fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico. It will be able to produce between 60 and 100 million sterile flies each week within a year. It's the first step toward producing the estimated 400 to 500 million flies needed each week to re-establish the new New World Screwworm barrier at the Darien Gap at the border of Panama and Columbia – and stop the movement of the flies. Pets, especially dogs, are vulnerable to the screwworm Wildlife, including deer, are vulnerable to the maggots as are pets – and especially dogs. "There's a treatment availalbe, but it takes several days in quarantine if a dog comes down with this," Bailey said. The treatment can only be used in non-food animals, which is why cattle simply have to be euthanized if they're infected. The goal is for the new effort will stop the screwworms long before they threaten the United States again. "Hopefully, this becomes another 'I remember when' story for veterinarians," Bailey said. Contributing: John Bacon, David Baratz, Greta Cross, Janet Loehrke, George Petras and Mike Snider.
The Herald Scotland
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
US to fight New World screwworm by dropping millions of flies
"This can kill a thousand-pound cow in two weeks," said Dr. Michael Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. "The federal government is being very aggressive in working to contain this." It's not as crazy as it sounds. A similar effort worked well decades ago. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a release, "The U.S. has defeated NWS before and can successfully do it again." The effort works by sterilizing male screwworm flies so that when they mate with females the resulting eggs are infertile. Over time so few fertile eggs are created that the fly is eradicated altogether. An effort across the U.S., Mexico and Central America that began in the 1950s was so successful this flying menace was totally eradicated north of Panama, except for a few tiny outbreaks. The U.S control program cost $32 million and was ended in the 1960s. But this past November, Mexico's Chief Veterinary Officer notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that a New World screwworm had been found in a cow in southern Mexico close to the border with Guatemala. This set off blazing alarm bells for the entire U.S. cattle and beef industry. So once again, USDA is ramping up its protective program to blanket the potential path of this reemerging threat onto the United States with a rain of sterile males to stop what USDA calls "a devastating pest." What is the New World Screwworm? So far the screwworms have only been seen in Mexico. "We have not seen any screwworms cross over the border into the U.S. and we're trying hard to prevent that," said Bailey. By dropping the sterile, fully developed flies, the USDA plans to keep the maggots from ever reaching the border. The New World Screwworm, or the NWS for short, is about the size common housefly. It has orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes along their backs, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The fly gets its name for how its maggots feed on the living flesh of an animal by burrowing, or screwing, into an open wound, creating "extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service states. This results in long, deep wounds in the surrounding flesh that are also susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, causing severe pain, and potentially death if left untreated. Livestock, pets and wildlife are all threatened, as are humans in rare cases. "To give you the heebie-jeebies, you can actually see the skin moving. And it smells rank," said Bailey. Animals at greatest risk include those that have recently given birth, have open wounds, or have undergone surgery or management procedures such as dehorning or branding, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. It's dangerous enough that veterinarians are urged to wear disposable gloves when treating affected animals. How do sterile male flies help? The screwworm first became a significant problem in the United States in 1933, according to the USDA. By the early 1960s, Southeast cattle producers had lost between $50-100 million because of screwworm infestations. Beginning in the 1950s, the federal government established the Sterile Insect Technique, a method that utilized radiation to sterilize male flies. These mass-produced sterile males were released into target areas. They mated with females, resulting in unfertilized eggs. No fertile eggs meant no more screwworms. Similar programs have been created to release sterile mosquitos. The screwworm program was a stunning success. The insect was officially eradicated in the United States by 1966, at a cost of $32 million to complete - protecting the U.S. cattle and beef industry, worth more than $80 billion today. With the screwworm's return to Mexico, USDA on June 18 announced the launch an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas. It's anticipated to begin producing sterile males by the end of the year. In addition, USDA is working with Mexico to begin producing sterile screwworms. The agency is investing $21 million to renovate an existing fruit fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico. It will be able to produce between 60 and 100 million sterile flies each week within a year. It's the first step towards producing the estimated 400 to 500 million flies needed each week to re-establish the new New World Screwworm barrier at the Darien Gap at the border of Panama and Columbia - and stop the movement of the flies. Pets, especially dogs, are vulnerable to the screwworm Wildlife, including deer, are vulnerable to the maggots as are pets - and especially dogs. "There's a treatment availalbe, but it takes several days in quarantine if a dog comes down with this," Bailey said. The treatment can only be used in non-food animals, which is why cattle simply have to be euthanized if they're infected. The goal is for the new effort will stop the screwworms long before they threaten the United States again. "Hopefully this becomes another 'I remember when' story for veterinarians," said Bailey. Contributing: John Bacon, David Baratz, Greta Cross, Janet Loehrke, George Petras and Mike Snider.
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Science
- USA Today
The US plans to drop millions of flies at the Texas border to fight a flesh-eating maggot
By dropping the sterile, fully developed flies, the USDA plans to prevent flesh-eating maggots from reaching the United States. Here's how. The United States plans to bring back a somewhat shocking, but very effective, campaign to fight a flesh-eating parasitic fly that's been sighted in Mexico. The plan: Breed millions of sterilized flies and drop them over the Texas-Mexican border to protect the more than $100 billion U.S. cattle and beef industry from the New World screwworm (NWS). "This can kill a thousand-pound cow in two weeks," said Dr. Michael Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. "The federal government is being very aggressive in working to contain this." It's not as crazy as it sounds. A similar effort worked well decades ago. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a release, "The U.S. has defeated NWS before and can successfully do it again." The effort works by sterilizing male screwworm flies so that when they mate with females the resulting eggs are infertile. Over time so few fertile eggs are created that the fly is eradicated altogether. An effort across the U.S., Mexico and Central America that began in the 1950s was so successful this flying menace was totally eradicated north of Panama, except for a few tiny outbreaks. The U.S control program cost $32 million and was ended in the 1960s. But this past November, Mexico's Chief Veterinary Officer notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that a New World screwworm had been found in a cow in southern Mexico close to the border with Guatemala. This set off blazing alarm bells for the entire U.S. cattle and beef industry. So once again, USDA is ramping up its protective program to blanket the potential path of this reemerging threat onto the United States with a rain of sterile males to stop what USDA calls "a devastating pest." What is the New World Screwworm? So far the screwworms have only been seen in Mexico. "We have not seen any screwworms cross over the border into the U.S. and we're trying hard to prevent that," said Bailey. By dropping the sterile, fully developed flies, the USDA plans to keep the maggots from ever reaching the border. The New World Screwworm, or the NWS for short, is about the size common housefly. It has orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes along their backs, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The fly gets its name for how its maggots feed on the living flesh of an animal by burrowing, or screwing, into an open wound, creating "extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service states. This results in long, deep wounds in the surrounding flesh that are also susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, causing severe pain, and potentially death if left untreated. Livestock, pets and wildlife are all threatened, as are humans in rare cases. "To give you the heebie-jeebies, you can actually see the skin moving. And it smells rank," said Bailey. Animals at greatest risk include those that have recently given birth, have open wounds, or have undergone surgery or management procedures such as dehorning or branding, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. It's dangerous enough that veterinarians are urged to wear disposable gloves when treating affected animals. How do sterile male flies help? The screwworm first became a significant problem in the United States in 1933, according to the USDA. By the early 1960s, Southeast cattle producers had lost between $50-100 million because of screwworm infestations. Beginning in the 1950s, the federal government established the Sterile Insect Technique, a method that utilized radiation to sterilize male flies. These mass-produced sterile males were released into target areas. They mated with females, resulting in unfertilized eggs. No fertile eggs meant no more screwworms. Similar programs have been created to release sterile mosquitos. The screwworm program was a stunning success. The insect was officially eradicated in the United States by 1966, at a cost of $32 million to complete – protecting the U.S. cattle and beef industry, worth more than $80 billion today. With the screwworm's return to Mexico, USDA on June 18 announced the launch an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas. It's anticipated to begin producing sterile males by the end of the year. In addition, USDA is working with Mexico to begin producing sterile screwworms. The agency is investing $21 million to renovate an existing fruit fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico. It will be able to produce between 60 and 100 million sterile flies each week within a year. It's the first step towards producing the estimated 400 to 500 million flies needed each week to re-establish the new New World Screwworm barrier at the Darien Gap at the border of Panama and Columbia – and stop the movement of the flies. Pets, especially dogs, are vulnerable to the screwworm Wildlife, including deer, are vulnerable to the maggots as are pets – and especially dogs. "There's a treatment availalbe, but it takes several days in quarantine if a dog comes down with this," Bailey said. The treatment can only be used in non-food animals, which is why cattle simply have to be euthanized if they're infected. The goal is for the new effort will stop the screwworms long before they threaten the United States again. "Hopefully this becomes another 'I remember when' story for veterinarians," said Bailey. Contributing: John Bacon, David Baratz, Greta Cross, Janet Loehrke, George Petras and Mike Snider.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents report concerning increase in infestations as dangerous insects spread across US: 'Don't let it live … please kill all of them'
An invasive species is making its presence known in Virginia, and local vineyards are scrambling to minimize the damage, as reported by WDBJ 7. Despite their unassuming name, spotted lanternflies have quickly garnered a reputation as a particularly damaging pest. Native to parts of Asia, the spotted lanternfly was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania, per the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Since then, they have spread to multiple states and pose a threat to agricultural economies, native trees, and ecosystems. One of those affected states is Virginia, which has seen varying infestations of the invasive species since 2018. The insect poses a threat to various plants and trees, including economically important ones like grapevines, hops, and fruit trees. Home to six wineries, Bedford, Virginia, has learned about the destructive nature of the spotted lanternfly firsthand. This is why many business owners in the area are urging everyone to do their part in preventing an uncontrollable infestation. Danny Johnson, owner of Johnson's Orchard and Peaks of Otter Winery, spoke about the lengths that residents need to go in the fight against the invasive insect. "We try to educate everybody about them, and if they see one anywhere, even if it's at home, kill it," Johnson told WDBJ 7. "That's what we want them to do if they see one, don't let it live, everywhere this goes, please kill all of them." Shawn Jadrnicek, an Agriculture and Natural Resource Extension Agent with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, noted just how rapidly the spotted lanternfly has spread across the state. "Last year, we just had like a few sightings. Now, it's widespread. I've seen them all over the place," Jadrnicek explained to WDBJ 7. "People have trees covered with them, plants covered with them, so it's ramped up very quickly this year." Spotted lanternflies can cause severe damage to plants by sucking sap, which can weaken and destroy the plants' structure, making them vulnerable to other diseases and insects. The pest can also excrete a sugary substance known as honeydew, which promotes the growth of sooty mold, further damaging plants and potentially preventing photosynthesis. As a whole, grapevines can be particularly vulnerable to spotted lanternfly infestations. Their feeding can lead to weakened vines, reduced winter hardiness, lower yields, and even vine death. Jadrnicek says that the key to controlling the spread of these invasive pests lies in targeting their habitat. And for spotted lanternflies, their favorite plant to call home is the Tree of Heaven, an invasive plant species known for its rapid growth and ability to outcompete native plants for resources. "You can use an herbicide called Triclopyr and you can hack and squirt around the base of the tree. Then use full-strength Triclopyr in those wounds that you make on the tree," Jadrnicek told WDBJ 7. "If you simply just cut down those trees, you're not necessarily going to kill them. They're going to sprout up from the root." To help aid in the fight against the spotted lanternfly, researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered that ants may contribute as an early indicator of the pest's presence in an area. According to the study, ants have grown fond of the honeydew excreted by the spotted lanternfly and may travel to the food source. This may offer experts a much-needed head start to tackle infestations before they spiral out of control. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
USA Today
28-06-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Fire ants evolve into a fearsome hybrid: 'Anything can really happen'
Researchers thought colder temperatures and higher elevations could stop the march of invasive fire ants. Mother Nature had other ideas. Southern states familiar with an invasive, stinging ant are facing a new foe: A hybrid bug that combines the fierce red fire ant and the hardy black fire ant. Imported fire ants have spread from their native South America to the United States with help from accidental human transportation, a lack of predators and warming temperatures thanks to climate change – potentially bringing upper elevations in the Appalachians and colder Mid-Atlantic state areas into colonization danger. The invasive fire ants first hitched a boat ride to Alabama in 1918. Since then, they've marched into over a dozen states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Now, experts say two species of invasive fire ants found in the United States are crossbreeding, creating an even nastier and hardier bug. The USA TODAY Network investigated the emerging threat this spring. Here's what to know: What are imported fire ants? Fire ants are famous for forming into large balls of living matter during flooding events, allowing them to literally float down to new locations. After Tropical Storm Helene dropped record-levels of rain across much of western North Carolina last fall, that ability has officials especially worried about how the natural disaster might have helped the invasive species spread to new areas, said Joy Goforth, plant pest administrator with the state agriculture department. Their venom, similar to a bee's or wasp's, results in a painful, itchy pustule or blister on the skin. A very small portion of the population are hypersensitive to ant venom and can experience lethal allergic reactions, according to the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project at Texas A&M. Even healthy individuals, however, may experience severe reactions such as anaphylactic shock if they suffer from a multiple stinging incident. Treatments for stings are limited, with Texas A&M recommending stings be treated as you would stings of other insects. Keep them clean and intact to avoid secondary infections. Considering a mature colony can include up to 400,000 worker ants, a queen can lay up to 1,000 eggs a day, and that there can be several colonies per acre of land, fire ants can sometimes seem like the perfect pest. "Right now, it just seems they are very adaptable, and that includes moving their nests further underground in the higher elevations where the temperatures are more constant year-round, to some degree outsmarting the environment," said Amy Michael, entomological programs manager with N.C. Agriculture. Where have fire ants spread? They've spread across every county of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina. They've reached across most of North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Arkansas, and have infiltrated parts of Virginia, Oklahoma and New Mexico, according to national data. "While eradicating them would be the goal in a perfect world, we really are at the point now where we are trying to manage their impacts and their spread," Michael said. Hybrid fire ants are bad news Mother Nature has thrown a new wrinkle into the mix − a new hybrid ant that's a merger of the two invasive fire ant species that have reached U.S. shores. Dr. Scotty Yang, assistant professor in the Virginia Tech Department of Entomology, said hybridized fire ants are the result of interbreeding between red and black fire ants. The outcome is a fire ant that has the strength and ornery disposition of the fiercer red fire ant with the better tolerance of colder temperatures found in black fire ants. Yang said the hybrid ants have become the explorers and front guard for the fire ant invasion into colder and more northerly areas, becoming the dominant fire ant species in the upper elevations of Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. And they are proving to be very successful, with a dozen Virginia counties added to that's state fire ant quarantine map just last year. Yang said viruses that impact "normal" fire ants also have less of an impact on the hybrids, making them less likely to forage and thus less likely to carry poisoned bait back to their mounds. "In some respect, the viruses help them survive," he said. Researchers are still trying to determine why the ants decided to crossbreed. "But once you introduce a species to a new place, anything can really happen," Yang said. Living with fire ants After more than 60 years in North Carolina, officials in the state stress that it's no longer a question of eradicating the invaders. Michael said several fire ant control measures are available at garden and home improvement shops that target different stages of the ants' and colony's development. The best strategy involves treatments that allow bait to be brought back into the mound, Michael said. Treating mounds when they appear quickly, especially those near concrete and brick walls where heat radiating from those materials allows the ants to stay active longer, also is important for good control. Michael told USA TODAY that North Carolina's agriculture officials continue to conduct surveys in the counties outside the current quarantine area. "Yes, they are very adaptable, and yes, they can spread pretty quickly," Michael said. "But there are tools out there that are available to residents and businesses to help try and mitigate the impacts and their spread." As fire ants spread, watch out for stinging Asian needle ants, too Fire ants sound bad enough, but another invasive ant species with an ominous name are also spreading through the country: stinging Asian needle ants. "Asian needle ants" are small and difficult to spot, blending in until they make themselves known with a sharp sting that has led to life-threatening anaphylactic shock in some cases. They've been recorded in about 20 states and are widespread along the East Coast, experts say. "Imagine somebody inserting a needle directly into your flesh," said Benoit Guénard, a professor of ecology and entomology at the University of Hong Kong who studied the ants in North Carolina. "It's a very sharp, acute pain but it's quite local." Read more about Asian needle ants here. Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@ or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work. Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
