The U.S. government, through the Department of Agriculture (USDA), is preparing to breed and release billions of sterile male New World screwworm flies over southern Texas and Mexico. This initiative aims to combat the flesh-eating maggot infestation caused by the New World Screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae threaten livestock, wildlife, and pets by feeding on living tissue. The flies are sterilized using radiation before being released from airplanes to disrupt the pest’s reproduction cycle and reduce its population. The program, which has been used successfully in the past, is part of a $30 million effort to protect the American beef industry and biodiversity in the affected regions. The USDA and U.S. Agriculture Secretary have expressed confidence in the approach, emphasizing its proven effectiveness in eradicating the pest. The release is planned to occur weekly, with up to 400 million sterilized flies dropped over the border areas to prevent the spread of the infestation into the United States.