Sterile insects is the most effective method of pest control.

In an effort to curb the spread of the screwworm, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to open a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The announcement follows the detection of the screwworm fly in Nuevo León—near the border—in September. In a press release, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins noted: “The opening of the Tampico sterile fly dispersal facility is another incredibly important tool in our arsenal to stop the spread of the worm.” She added that “the facility will ensure flexibility and responsiveness in northern Mexico.” Eradication through the sterile insect technique remains the most effective method of controlling the screwworm, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Aphis). This method uses radiation to create sterile male flies that are released into problem areas. The sterile males mate with females, which then lay unfertilized eggs. As female flies typically mate only once in their ...