New Facility In Texas Aims To Boost Fly Population Control

Living out in West Texas on a few acres of land, I pay attention when something threatens livestock, wildlife, or even family pets. That’s why a new announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture caught my attention.

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Federal officials say they are preparing for the possible return of the New World Screwworm, a parasitic fly that once caused serious damage to livestock across the southern United States.

Texas Sterile Fly Facility Planned

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have awarded a contract to build a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas.

The facility will produce sterile male flies that will be released into areas where screwworms could appear.

This strategy has worked before. The United States officially eliminated screwworms back in 1966, but experts say ongoing prevention is necessary to keep the pest from returning.

How the Sterile Fly Method Works

The approach is surprisingly simple.

Scientists raise male screwworm flies and sterilize them using radiation. When released into the wild, those sterile males mate with females. Because female screwworm flies only mate once in their lifetime, any eggs they lay will not hatch.

Over time, the population collapses.

This technique has been used successfully for decades and is considered one of the most environmentally responsible pest control methods available.

Protecting Texas Livestock and Wildlife

Right now, the United States produces about 100 million sterile flies per week through a facility in Panama. The new Texas facility will strengthen domestic protection and could eventually produce up to 300 million sterile flies weekly.

For folks who live in rural Texas, as many of us do, this effort helps protect cattle, wildlife, pets, and even people.

Screwworm larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, making prevention critical for ranchers and animal owners across the state.

Federal officials say construction on the Texas facility could begin later this spring.

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