Texas Opens Facility to Disperse Sterile Flies and Combat Flesh-Eating Pest

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The US Department of Agriculture and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have opened a new facility in Edinburg, Texas to disperse sterile New World screwworm flies. This is part of a larger effort to prevent the flesh-eating parasite from crossing the Mexican border and wreaking havoc on the American cattle industry. The USDA is also building a $750 million fly breeding factory nearby and converting a facility in Mexico to breed the sterile flies.

Why it matters

The New World screwworm fly is a major threat to the US cattle industry, as its larvae can infest livestock, wild mammals, pets, and even humans. The pest had largely been eradicated from American soil by the 1970s, but recent outbreaks have prompted the US to close its borders to cattle, bison, and horse imports from Mexico. This new facility in Texas is a critical short-term solution to combat the pest before the larger breeding factory is completed.

The details

The new facility in Edinburg will allow the US 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. 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 facility in Edinburg, Texas opened on Monday, February 10, 2026.
• The USDA's $750 million fly breeding factory nearby is not expected to be completed until the end of 2027.
• The USDA is converting a facility in Mexico to breed sterile screwworm flies starting this summer.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The USDA is expected to complete construction on its $750 million fly breeding factory near Edinburg by the end of 2027, which will significantly increase the agency's capacity to produce and disperse sterile New World screwworm flies.