The New World screwfly poses a significant threat to the $113 billion U.S. livestock industry for the first time in over 50 years, as its larvae were discovered in South Texas. Found in a 3-week-old calf in La Prayer, Texas, about 100 miles from San Antonio, the screwfly is historically problematic for warm-climate ranchers, with past infestations causing millions in losses before eradication efforts in the 1960s.
Officials have been working to contain the fly after it was first identified in Mexico in late 2024. The fly feeds on live tissue, making livestock especially vulnerable due to routine handling that can cause minor wounds. The infestation can be fatal if untreated, with billions in potential losses looming.
Despite concerns, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins reassured that the infestation is unlikely to impact beef production significantly. However, the spread of the fly has prompted a quarantine in Texas, with authorities monitoring and implementing inspections in affected areas.
Ranchers are taking precautions by administering vaccinations and closely monitoring livestock. The USDA is deploying sterile flies to combat the infestation, with plans to expand breeding facilities in southern Mexico to produce more sterile flies efficiently. The situation highlights the fast-multiplying nature of the screwfly, driven partly by climate change, complicating control efforts.
Source link
