Flesh-eating screwworms spread to third state and are attacking pets
USDA has identified 74 animal cases in US since parasitic flies invaded in June.
USDA has identified 74 animal cases in US since parasitic flies invaded in June.
The short version
- For a genuine fright this Halloween, you can turn your gaze to the southern border, where ravenous, flesh-eating maggots are festering and have taken to eating people’s pets.
- This week, the country’s New World Screwworm (NWS) infestation spread to a third state, Arizona, which joins New Mexico and Texas in being plagued by the horrifying parasites.
- To date, 74 animal cases have been identified in the US since the flies re-invaded the country in June.
What happened
The flies lay hundreds of eggs in wounds and moist orifices of animals, and the resulting voracious maggots feast on their victims. The maggots resemble screws and tortuously bore and twist into living flesh, causing severe, sometimes fatal wounds, before dropping to the ground to develop into adults.
Why it matters
Because of their ability to ravage livestock, the flies were eliminated from the country in the 1960s through aerial releases of sterile male flies, which thwart successful breeding.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.