The U.S. government has announced plans to establish an $8.5 million 'fly factory' in Texas by the end of 2025, aiming to combat a flesh-eating parasite that threatens American cattle [1][2][3]. This facility, to be located near the U.S.-Mexico border, will breed millions of sterile male New World screwworm flies as part of a strategic effort to prevent infestations [1][2].

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated on Wednesday that the sterile flies would be released into the wild to mate with females, effectively preventing them from laying eggs that hatch into destructive, flesh-eating larvae [2][3]. The New World screwworm is notorious for its larvae, which feed on the flesh of warm-blooded animals, posing a significant threat to livestock [1].

This Texas facility will be only the second of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, complementing an existing operation in Panama [1][2]. The Panama facility had been largely successful in preventing the screwworm's northward migration until last year [2][3].

The decision to build the new facility comes in response to the parasite's appearance in southern Mexico in late 2024, which has raised concerns among agriculture officials, the cattle industry, and veterinary groups [3][4]. As a precautionary measure, the U.S. suspended imports of live cattle, horses, and bison from Mexico last month [3][4].

In addition to the fly factory, the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to invest $21 million to convert a facility in Edinburg, Texas, into a sterile fly packaging center [2][5]. This comprehensive approach underscores the seriousness of the threat posed by the New World screwworm to the American cattle industry.

The establishment of this facility represents a proactive step in protecting U.S. agriculture and demonstrates the ongoing challenges in managing cross-border pest control issues. As climate change and global trade continue to impact pest distributions, such innovative approaches to pest management may become increasingly necessary worldwide.