Texas A&M entomologist breaks down New World screwworm eradication method

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - The New World screwworm is a growing concern for the Texas agriculture industry as the flesh-eating parasite makes its way north through Mexico.

Governor Greg Abbott announced that at least $750 million will go into a new Texas facility to prevent the spread of this pest and to sterilize these insects.

KBTX spoke with Texas A&M Head of the Entomology Department Dr. Phillip Kaufman about the technique that will be used to eradicate the pest.

Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a method involving rearing thousands of insects, sterilizing them with radiation, and then releasing them into an invasive population.

“Why it works so well with the New World screwworm is that the female fly will only mate once in her life, and if you can get her to mate with a sterilized male, then she won’t lay any viable eggs and therefore she won’t have any offspring,” Dr. Kaufman explained.

While other forms of control against a pest like this would involve spending thousands of dollars and lots of man power to spray pesticides, Dr. Kaufman said this method, “doesn’t have any environmental impacts and that those sterile flies eventually all die, and they’re using the flies biology against it.”

SIT is a method usually used to control insect populations. However, the pest poses a large economic threat to agriculture industry.

“The screw worm is a pest that is one of the few that we’ve decided eradication is the best approach because of the tremendous damage,” he added.