By Scout Nelson
Cattle farmers across the United States are facing a growing concern about a deadly insect called the New World screwworm. This flesh-eating parasite threatens herds from California to Florida. The screwworm, which is actually a fly, lays its eggs in the skin of living animals. When the larvae hatch, they burrow into the flesh, causing serious damage and, if untreated, death within a week.
The USDA is preparing to combat this threat once again using a strategy that was successful in the 1960s. The method, known as the sterile insect technique, involves breeding large numbers of male screwworms, irradiating them to make them sterile, and releasing them into affected areas. These sterile males mate with females, but since the males are sterile, no eggs are fertilized, which gradually reduces the fly population.
The screwworms have currently spread through Mexico and Central America, and their northward movement continues. These flies can travel up to 300 kilometers during their lifetime, spreading the infestation rapidly. Experts prefer this method over pesticides, as it targets the flies specifically and avoids harming other wildlife or the environment.
Dr. Edwin Burgess, a veterinary entomologist, notes that this technique could also be used for other pests, such as mosquitoes, but it works best on insects that mate only once. As the screwworms advance, the USDA is working to ensure that the sterile insect technique prevents further spread and protects cattle populations across the United States.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-digitalvision
Categories: South Dakota, Livestock, Dairy Cattle