Screwworms are coming—and they’re just as horrifying as they sound

tl;Dr

screwworms are a species of fly that lays eggs in open wounds or orifices, after which the larvae will feed on the hatching site, typically causing more screwworms to lay eggs. they were mostly eradicated via releasing millions of irradiated, sterile males into their population, a thing we still do every month, but for whatever reason, they broke through the biological barrier keeping them back and have made it all the way to Mexico.

the infection of eggs and larvae is incredibly painful and horrifying, and while humans are much less likely to be affected, the agriculture sector will take an enormous hit to their livestocks if it keeps spreading.

Holy. Fuck. I grew up on a farm. I've seen some shit; that just comes with the territory when livestock, heavy equipment, and farm implements are involved. Fly strike alone will have you napalming flying insects.

That video of the myiasis infection in the dude's nose...

<shiver>

Edit: I'm an idiot. Myiasis == fly strike. The species of fly is the variable.

I'm sorry, but this really is a 'nuke the entire site from orbit' situation. The loss of the southern US and Central America will, of course, be mourned as a terrible loss, but it'll be worth it to make sure those things are dealt with. Permanently.

Anyone have irradiated flesh eating flies on your 2025 bingo card?

Look, all you need to do is fill the hole where they burrow into you with Vaseline and cover it with duct tape for a couple days. Except for your pets, of course. For them you have to squeeze it like a zit and when you can see the face, grab it with a pair of pliers and slowly....gently...extract it.

Or, maybe, like, have a functioning government.

I immediately knew the author of this piece. If you ever need a dose of revulsion and nausea, I highly recommend any of Beth Mole's articles on parasites, worms and other nightmares.

Man, don't read this article unless you have a strange desire to have nightmares.

I did not need to see that deer picture. Lmao

This makes me glad that I immediately hunt down any fly I find in my home until it is dead. I had a sudden fly infestation years ago and have never been lazy about even just one fly in my home since.