New Mexico State University Releases Screwworm Guide Amid Rising Cases in Southwest
New Mexico State University's (NMSU) Cooperative Extension Service has released a new publication detailing the biology and characteristics of the adult New World screwworm fly. This guide comes as New Mexico faces a spike in confirmed screwworm cases across several counties, with 41 cases reported in Catron, Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Otero, Eddy, and Sierra counties. Nationally, confirmed cases have climbed to 121. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae infest the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, wildlife, and pets. Female flies lay eggs in wounds or natural body openings, and the larvae feed on living flesh, causing severe wounds, bacterial infections, stress, and potentially death if untreated. Caleb Hubbard, an assistant professor in NMSU's Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, co-wrote the guide to provide an accessible overview of the pest, its history, biology, and identification, aiming to raise awareness among those unfamiliar...
