New Texas Facility to Disperse Sterile Screwworm Flies

The US opens a center in Texas to release sterile male screwworm flies to prevent the flesh-eating parasite from crossing the Mexican border.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has opened a new facility in Edinburg, Texas to disperse sterile male New World screwworm flies as part of an effort to keep the flesh-eating parasite they spawn from crossing the Mexican border and impacting the American cattle industry. The center will work alongside a new $750 million fly breeding factory being built nearby that is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Why it matters

The New World screwworm fly is a major threat to livestock, wild mammals, pets, and even humans, as its larvae can infest open wounds and mucous membranes. Keeping this parasite out of the United States is critical to protecting the American cattle industry and public health.

The details

The new facility in Edinburg will allow the U.S. to disperse millions of sterile male New World screwworm flies bred in Mexico or Panama on both sides of the border. The sterile male flies will mate with wild females, whose eggs will then not hatch into the flesh-eating maggots. This is a short-term solution until a new $750 million fly breeding factory is completed nearby by the end of 2027. The USDA is also spending $21 million to convert a fruit fly breeding facility in Mexico into one for screwworm flies starting this summer.

  • The new Edinburg facility opened on Monday, February 10, 2026.
  • Construction on the new $750 million fly breeding factory is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
  • The USDA will begin converting a fruit fly breeding facility in Mexico into one for screwworm flies this summer.

The players

Brooke Rollins

U.S. Agriculture Secretary.

Greg Abbott

Governor of Texas.

New World Screwworm Fly

A flesh-eating parasite that can infest livestock, wild mammals, pets, and humans.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The federal agency overseeing the new screwworm fly dispersal facility and breeding factory.

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What they’re saying

“It's a real testament to the all hands on deck — federal state and local — the fact that we do not have the pest in our country yet.”

— Brooke Rollins, U.S. Agriculture Secretary (wbal.com)

“We knew we needed a short-term, gap-filling solution, which is exactly what we are cutting a ribbon on today.”

— Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas (wbal.com)

What’s next

The new $750 million fly breeding factory in Texas is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, which will significantly increase the U.S. capacity to disperse sterile screwworm flies.

The takeaway

The opening of this new screwworm fly dispersal facility in Texas is a critical step in the ongoing effort to keep this dangerous flesh-eating parasite from crossing the border and impacting the American cattle industry and public health.