screwworm fly

A wild screwworm fly has been found in Texas, the first detection there since the current outbreak began. The parasitic fly, whose larvae infest the wounds of warm-blooded animals, poses a serious threat to livestock and wildlife. The discovery will raise concern among ranchers and agricultural officials monitoring the pest's northward spread from Mexico.

Reports highlight ongoing efforts to combat an outbreak of New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae infest the wounds of warm-blooded animals, primarily affecting livestock. The pest, largely eradicated from North and Central America decades ago, has been spreading northward from Central America and southern Mexico, prompting animal health authorities to launch containment and surveillance programmes to protect cattle industries.