Screwworm Research and Eradication

Abstract

At a former air base converted to an insectary, fly sterilization and dispersal center, near Mission, Texas, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the USDA is producing and distributing approximately 200 million sterile screwworm flies, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), per week. Meanwhile, there is under construction another screwworm plant near Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico. This facility belongs to the Mexico-United States Commission for the Eradication of Screwworms. The new insectary is planned to begin producing 300 million flies weekly about a year from now.