Invasive Species Spreading Across US Ranked: Most to Least Concerning

The US Has a Plan to Combat Screwworm. It Involves a Lot More Flies

Releasing sterilized flies can crash a local population of flesh-eating screwworms. But the US currently has limited capacity to produce them.

Naig: Iowa is monitoring screwworm; parasite poses no food-safety risk

A pinned specimen of a full-grown New World screwworm fly is shown in this image. Federal and state officials are preparing for a potential invasion from the flesh-eating parasite that could disrupt livestock markets. (Photo courtesy of Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the state “stands ready” to protect livestock and farmers from screwworm. Naig’s statement came in a press release issued Friday, two…

First US Screwworm Case Spotlights Contraband Cattle in Mexico

First US Screwworm Case Spotlights Contraband Cattle in Mexico The first case of the screwworm parasite in livestock has been detected in the United States, highlighting the ongoing consequences of contraband cattle smuggling from Central America into Mexico. The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the case on June 3. Health officials said the New World screwworm (NWS) parasite was dete…

Invasive species spreading across US ranked: Most to least concerning

Newsweek has ranked the 10 most concerning invasive species in the U.S after the New World screwworm was found in a calf in Texas this month.

A flesh-eating fly just crossed into Texas. The last time it did, it took 30 years to stop

The New World screwworm fly is threatening the $113 billion U.S. cattle industry for the first time in more than a half century, with an infestation from its flesh-eating larvae confirmed in south Texas. The infestation was discovered in a single 3-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) southwest of San Antonio and 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the U.S.-Mexico border. Federal and state officials had been working to ke…

Eradicated screwworm found in Texas alarms ag officials, Oklahoma cattle industry

"Producers, pet, exotic and captive wildlife owners, wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, hunters and wildlife officials are asked to remain vigilant to help protect Oklahoma’s livestock, pets and wildlife populations," state officials said.