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Genetically Modified Flies Are The New Weapon Of The United States To Protect The Continent From A Silent Plague, Understand What Is Behind The Strategy
While much of the population associates flies with everyday annoyances, a silent operation is occurring at the border between two countries in Latin America that is turning these insects into allies in the protection of livestock and public health. The United States government has been sending over 14 million sterile flies weekly to the region between Panama and Colombia, as part of an international biological control program aimed at combating a devastating pest: the berne fly, also known as the cattle maggot fly or, in scientific terms, Cochliomyia hominivorax.
This strategy, although it seems exotic, is technically grounded and has shown effective results in other parts of the world.
How Does The Method Work?
The procedure adopted is called Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). The technique consists of creating millions of male flies in the laboratory that are sterilized through radiation. After this process, the insects are released into the environment. When these sterile males mate with females of the same species living in the wild, reproduction does not occur. The result is a progressive reduction of the pest population, as the eggs laid by the females do not develop.
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This type of biological control has been successfully used in the eradication of Cochliomyia hominivorax in countries like the United States and Mexico, and is now being implemented intensively in the border region between Colombia and Panama. The goal is to prevent the pest from moving northwards again, putting at risk areas already free from infestation.
Why Is This Fly So Dangerous?
The Cochliomyia hominivorax is not an ordinary fly. Its larvae feed on living tissues in open wounds of warm-blooded animals, such as cattle, goats, horses, and even humans. This parasitic behavior can cause severe wounds, secondary infections, loss of productivity in livestock, and in extreme cases, even the host’s death.
A single uncontrolled outbreak can cause large-scale damage to the rural economy. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this pest is responsible for billion-dollar losses each year, directly affecting meat and milk production and requiring expensive veterinary treatments that are difficult to access in remote areas.
Moreover, the ecological impact is not negligible. The infestation also affects wildlife, especially in forest areas where monitoring and treatment are more challenging.
The Joint Operation Between The United States, Panama, And Colombia
The program is partly funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), with technical support from the Isle Pest Control Center (COPEG), based in Panama. This is a trinational cooperation aimed at creating a natural biological barrier between the infested areas in the south and the pest-free regions in the north.
According to the USDA, COPEG has already distributed over 2 billion sterile flies since the start of the program. The release is done by air, using aircraft equipped with specific devices to efficiently disperse the insects over strategic areas.
According to biologist Carlos Chavarría, coordinator of the entomology sector at COPEG, “the success of the technique depends on the regularity and intensity of the release of sterile insects, as well as strict sanitary control on farms and at-risk areas.”
Controversy Among Environmentalists?
While the use of modified insects raises concerns in some circles, especially regarding unknown impacts on the ecosystem, there are currently no opposing statements from environmental groups regarding the use of this technique to combat Cochliomyia hominivorax. This is partly due to the fact that SIT does not involve the use of chemical pesticides nor genetically alters the insects — they are simply sterilized by radiation, a method considered safe and free of environmental residues.
Has Brazil Faced This Problem?
Yes. The berne fly has been a significant pest in Brazil and is still observed in some rural areas, especially in the North and Northeast. However, the country has also adopted similar biological control strategies, including participation in international projects coordinated by Embrapa, aimed at protecting livestock.
Additionally, experts from UNESP and other institutions have studied the use of the technique in different contexts, including combating Aedes aegypti and other species that impact public health and agriculture.
A Sanitary Shield For All Of Latin America
In a statement, the National Federation of Workers in Sanitary Works of Panama stated that the initiative represents a “vital sanitary shield for the future of the Latin American rural economy,” emphasizing the importance of prevention against a pest that, if uncontrolled, can spread rapidly due to increased movement of animals across borders.
With the advancement of climate change and the expansion of agricultural frontiers, the risk of dispersal of pests like Cochliomyia hominivorax becomes increasingly real. Therefore, projects like this gain even more relevance in a scenario that demands constant vigilance and innovation in sustainable solutions.
Entao não são geneticamente modificados, no caso os machos são esterilizados usando instrumentos de radiação. Atentar as definicoes cientificas.
Muito bom essas moscas que colocam ovos de bernes estão acabando com filhotes de aves no ninho 90 por cento estão infectados de bernes levando as aves a sua extinção.
E porque não usar esse mesmo método com o mosquito transmissor da dengue e outras doença proveniente dele?