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This topic always leads me back to reading about the Darién Gap [0]. When eradication was working successfully, they had managed to push the screwworm populatio

This topic always leads me back to reading about the Darién Gap [0]. When eradication was working successfully, they had managed to push the screwworm population all the way back to the Gap and keep it out of major population/agriculture areas. There were (or are) yearly efforts to perform the sterile insect technique [1]. Expensive to perform, but worth it for all the damage they'd otherwise cause if left unchecked. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dari%C3%A9n_Gap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dari%C3%A9n_Gap [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterile_insect_technique https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterile_insect_technique

beached_whale 1y ago
Not expensive at all. 10s of millions of dollars a year is my understanding.
- bglazer 1y ago
  $200 million in total, approximately the cost of two (2) F35B fighter jets https://cr.usembassy.gov/sections-offices/aphis/screwworm-program/ https://cr.usembassy.gov/sections-offices/aphis/screwworm-pr...
  - janice1999 1y ago
    Arstechnica reports it "is estimated to have saved US farmers $900 million every year." Not sure where they source the number from. https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/05/screwworms-are-coming-and-theyre-just-as-horrifying-as-they-sound/ https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/05/screwworms-are-coming...
  - beached_whale 1y ago
    Ah thanks. I thought it was lower, but in the scheme of things it's still cheap and it prevents people from getting it too.
deleted 1y ago
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chasil 1y ago
I had confused botflies for screw worms, but they are different. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botfly https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botfly https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochliomyia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochliomyia