The state of Texas is confronting a resurgent threat from the New World screwworm a parasitic fly that hasn’t been seen in the U.S. since the 1960s. This infestation poses a serious risk to the state’s livestock industrywildlife populations and
On June 3, 2026 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the first case of New World screwworm in a calf in Zavala County. This discovery came just weeks after state lawmakers were warned about the growing threat during a May 11 hearing of the Texas Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs.
The Economic Stakes of the Screwworm Infestation
The New World screwworm larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing significant harm to livestock and wildlife. While it doesn’t threaten the U.S. food supply, it can disrupt food production by harming livestock. Phillip Kaufman head of the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University estimated that a major infestation could cost Texas’ cattle industry and the broader state economy $1.8 billion.
This figure includes losses from reduced livestock production, increased veterinary care, additional labor for inspections and treatment, and higher spending on medications and insecticides. Kaufman also noted that the estimate doesn’t account for the state’s wildlife industry, which contributes more than $10 billion annually to the Texas economy.
State and Federal Response to the Infestation
Since the first case was confirmed, state and federal officials have established quarantine zones and increased surveillance and trapping efforts. A key part of the response involves releasing sterile male flies into the environment. When wild females mate with these sterile flies, their eggs do not hatch, causing the screwworm population to decline over time.
As of now, roughly 4 million sterile screwworm flies are being released each week by air in areas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The USDA has outlined plans to dramatically expand production, including a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas. This facility is expected to produce up to 100 million sterile flies per week when it opens in November 2027 with capacity increasing to as many as 300 million flies per week by the end of 2028.
Emerging Technologies and Future Plans
During the May hearing, Dudley Hoskins the USDA’s undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, highlighted emerging technologies under development, including NovoFly a gene-edited fly designed to produce more sterile male offspring. The USDA is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate its potential use in future screwworm control efforts.
Hoskins also mentioned that the USDA is investing $21 million to convert an existing fruit fly facility in Metapa, Mexico into a sterile screwworm fly production hub. Once complete, this facility is expected to produce an additional 60 million to 100 million sterile flies per week with production potentially beginning as early as summer 2026.
The Long-Term Outlook
Despite the confidence expressed by state officials, Phillip Kaufman warned that the fight against screwworm is unlikely to end anytime soon. “We are in this battle for — my prediction is — decades,” Kaufman said. He emphasized that while the state is prepared, the economic and ecological impact of the infestation could be significant.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director David Yoskowitz and State Veterinarian Bud Dinges expressed confidence in the state’s preparedness. However, the potential economic impact drew concern from several state lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Adam Hinojosa of Corpus Christi whose district includes much of South Texas.
As Texas enters a period of heightened awareness and coordinated response, experts from across Texas A&M AgriLife are supporting state and federal agencies in their efforts to combat the infestation. The state’s comprehensive response plan includes educational materials, training, fact sheets, guidance documents, and surveillance support to help Texans detect potential infestations early and reduce the pest’s impact.