How the U.S. Was Left Exposed to the Flesh-Eating Screwworm, Years Into the Outbreak
Officials say North America’s fly barrier still produces less than a third of the sterile flies experts say are needed to contain the pest.
7 Articles
7 Articles
How the U.S. was left exposed to the flesh-eating screwworm, years into the outbreak
For decades, planes dropped billions of factory-bred sterile flies to keep the flesh-eating New World screwworm out of North America’s cattle. That controls the pest because sterile males mate with wild females – whose eggs then fail to hatch. But the strategy works only if the supply of flies never runs short.
For decades, billions of sterile flies reared in factories were dispersed by airplanes to keep the New World sweeper at bay.
How the US was left exposed to the flesh-eating screwworm, years into the outbreak
MEXICO CITY/WASHINGTON, Nov 9 - For decades, planes dropped billions of factory-bred sterile flies to keep the flesh-eating New World screwworm out of North America’s cattle. That controls the pest because sterile males mate with wild females – whose eggs then fail to hatch. Read more at straitstimes.com.
For decades, billions of sterile flies raised in factories were dispersed by airplanes to keep the New World sweeper worm, which attacks North American cattle, at bay.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
