A fly-control campaign in Texas is drawing attention for both its enormous scale and one especially unusual detail: Texas Parks and Wildlife says that more than 700 million sterile flies have already been released to help stop a flesh-eating parasite.
Even more surprisingly, the insects are designed to glow under UV light.
Here's what to know
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, the plan is to cut the pest's reproduction by making it more likely that wild females mate with sterile males and produce no viable offspring.
In an Instagram post, the agency detailed the initiative.
"Over 700,000,000 sterile flies have been released in and around areas infested with New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue," the agency wrote.
Rather than trying to eliminate every fly outright, officials are using the insect's own reproductive cycle against it.
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"The sterile fly larvae are coated with fluorescent nontoxic dye so adult flies will glow under UV light for easy identification," the post continued.
"Release the sterile squad," Texas Parks and Wildlife wrote.
More background
Because the New World screwworm is a parasitic insect whose larvae consume living tissue, it is a serious threat to animals.
When a parasite feeds on living tissue, the damage can affect pets, wildlife, and other animals that people care for, rely on, or work to protect.
Preventing outbreaks can spare animals from painful infestations and ease stress for the people responsible for their health and safety.
If adult flies can be identified under UV light, officials can more easily distinguish released sterile flies from wild ones and track how well the program is working.
What's being done?
The effort centers on widespread release of sterile males in infested areas.
As more female screwworm flies encounter those males, fewer viable offspring are produced, which can gradually suppress the destructive population.
The approach targets reproduction instead of relying solely on reactive treatment after animals have already been harmed.
Where can I learn more?
Texas' sterile-fly campaign is just one piece of a major response to New World screwworm, as the articles below demonstrate.
As new cases prompt quarantines and rescue restrictions across the state, officials and animal-care groups are trying several approaches at once while closely monitoring whether the releases can slow the parasite.
• In Texas, millions of flies falling from the sky may be the only way to stop screwworm.
• In Zavala County, Texas, a second flesh-eating screwworm case triggered a quarantine and more sterile-fly releases.
• Around Austin, Wildlife Rescue stopped accepting mammals and birds from seven counties due to screwworm precautions.
Being able to spot sterile flies makes it easier to track the campaign as part of a wide-scale effort to monitor the spread, protect animals, and contain the outbreak.
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