U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) New World Screwworm (NWS) Dispersal Facility, Moore Air Base, Edinburg, Texas, on Jul. 2, 2026.
Before NWS sterile pupae arrive a solution of water and nutrients are heated in commercial kettles. The mixture is then pumped into trays and air cooled before going into a cold room to firm up into a translucent gel. The facility's dispersal rate will increase from approximately 60 million to a total of 80 million flies per week.
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 training, and specialized aviation support—the operation demonstrates an intensive, international effort to protect livestock, wildlife, and communities across the region.
Videos are available at
https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/NewWorldScrewworm
Photos are available in the USDA APHIS Collection https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/collections/72157625204032244/
USDA Media by Lance Cheung.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2026 14:15 |
| Photo ID: | 9869856 |
| VIRIN: | 260702-P-RD001-1129 |
| Resolution: | 2209x1243 |
| Size: | 713.76 KB |
| Location: | EDINBURG, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 2 |
| 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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