A contract pilot in one of the twin turboprop aircraft—modified with onboard fly container cooling systems and external dispersal chutes flies to home base at the South Texas International Airport in Edinburg, TX, on July 2, 2026. Earlier this morning, the crew dispersed sterile New World Screwworm flies over areas predetermined zones. Pilots and dispersal technicians take advantage of calm early morning weather. Once at the drop zone the aircraft followed GPS guided north–south or east–west grids at about 6,500 feet, allowing broad, even distribution over the target zone near the Mexico border. As the pilot nears the first drop zone, he will alert the Dispersing Technician to prepare for dispersal. On the pilot‘s cue, the technician activates the aircraft’s dispersal systems. A motorized auger system begins to slowly turn to maintain a controlled release rate while the autopilot flies the preprogrammed pattern. After completing each grid, crews land to refuel before returning to their base of operation.
The sterile fly program, built on decades of multinational cooperation, uses continuous aerial release to halt the spread of New World Screwworm by overwhelming wild populations with sterile males. With multi agency coordination—from CBP inspections to USDA documentation, facility processing, Texas National Guard, and specialized aviation support—the operation demonstrates an intensive, international effort to protect livestock, wildlife, and communities across the region.
Videos are at the Defense Visual Information Distribution System (DVIDS) https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/NewWorldScrewworm
Photos are at DVIDS and the USDA APHIS Flickr Collection https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/collections/72157625204032244/
USDA Media by Lance Cheung. Attribution appreciated.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2026 14:15 |
| Photo ID: | 9869852 |
| VIRIN: | 260702-P-RD001-1084 |
| Resolution: | 3563x2004 |
| Size: | 1.79 MB |
| Location: | EDINBURG, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 3 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, New World Screwworm Sterile Fly Aerial Dispersal [Image 36 of 36], by Lance Cheung, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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