Across the Federal Government, we're driving innovation to stop the spread of screwworm and ensure we have the tools we need to fight the pest.
New World Screwworm Grand Challenge
USDA has committed up to $100 million toward breakthrough technologies through the New World Screwworm Grand Challenge. This funding opportunity will solicit ideas for innovative projects aimed at combating screwworm.
The selected projects will support one or more of the following objectives:
- Enhance sterile NWS fly production
- Develop novel NWS traps and lures
- Develop and increase understanding of NWS therapeutics/treatments for animals
- Develop other tools to bolster preparedness or response to NWS
Details on this opportunity, including application information and eligibility, will be announced soon.
Research
USDA is leveraging Agricultural Research Service (ARS) experts to continue to develop novel treatments, preventatives, and response strategies for NWS. ARS scientists are located both in Texas at the Knipling-Bushland Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and at the COPEG facility in Panama.
Browse ARS' published manuscripts below by topic.
Arp et al. 2025.
Tetracycline has no long-term effects on gut physiology and microbiome of the New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, which has positive implications for transgenic male-only rearing systems.
https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkaf058
Arp et al. 2024.
Doxycycline is a viable alternative to tetracycline for use in insect Tet-Off transgenic sexing systems, as assessed in the blowflies Cochliomyia hominivorax and Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae).
https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae023
Hickner et al. 2024.
An alternative chicken-based diet for mass-rearing screwworm flies.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad219
Tietjen et al. 2023.
Insights into the genetic landscape and presence of Cochliomyia hominivorax in the Caribbean.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07757-4
Arp et al. 2022.
The microbiome of wild and mass-reared New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-04828-5
Concha et al. 2020.
An early female lethal system of the New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, for biotechnology-enhanced SIT.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-020-00948-x
Scott et al. 2020.
Genomic analyses of a livestock pest, the New World screwworm, find potential targets for genetic control programs.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01152-4.
Paulo et al. 2019.
Specific gene disruption in the major livestock pests Cochliomyia hominivorax and Lucilia cuprina using CRISPR/Cas9.
https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.119.400544
Thomas et al. 2018.
The use of dried bovine hemoglobin and plasma for mass rearing New World Screwworm.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iey052
Sagel et al. 2016.
Managing ammonia emissions from screwworm larval rearing media.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tov291
Concha et al. 2016.
A transgenic male-only strain of the New World Screwworm for an improved control program using the sterile insect technique.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-016-0296-8
Bendele et al. 2016.
The testes transcriptome of the New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2016.11.026
Chaudhury et al. 2015.
Effects of new dietary ingredients used in artificial diet for screwworm larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae).
https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tov039
Pitti et al. 2011.
Effect of adult screwworm size on mating competence.
Hickner et al. 2023.
A new formulation of screwworm fly attractant with reduced hazardous chemicals and transport restrictions.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjad043
Tietjen et al. 2023.
Development of a diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel for identifying geographic origins of Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World Screwworm.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.109884
Tietjen et al. 2022.
Geographic population genetic structure of the New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae), using SNPs.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac024
Altuna et al. 2021.
New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) myiasis in feral swine of Uruguay: One Health and transboundary disease implications.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04499-z
Paulo et al. 2021.
Disruption of the odorant coreceptor Orco impairs foraging and host finding behaviors in the New World Screwworm fly.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90649-x
Scott et al. 2020.
Genomic analyses of a livestock pest, the New World Screwworm, find potential targets for genetic control programs.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01152-4
Hickner et al. 2020.
Physiological and molecular correlates of the screwworm fly attraction to wound and animal odors.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77541-w
Dupuis et al. 2018.
Molecular characterization of the 2016 New World Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) outbreak in the Florida Keys.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjy078
Zhu et al. 2017.
Semiochemicals released from five bacteria identified from animal wounds infested by primary screwworms and their effects on fly behavioral activity.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0179090
Chaudhury et al. 2016.
Bacterial volatiles attract gravid secondary screwworms (Diptera: Calliphoridae).
https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tov390
Chaudhury et al. 2015.
Response of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to screwworm oviposition attractant.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjv054
Chaudhury et al. 2014.
Volatiles from waste larval rearing media attract gravid screwworm flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to oviposit.
https://doi.org/10.1603/ME13193
Skoda et al. 2013.
Inter-and intraspecific identification of the screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, using random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction.
https://doi.org/10.1673/031.013.7601
Chaudhury et al. 2012.
Evaluation of artificial larval rearing media waste as oviposition attractant for New World Screwworms (Diptera: Calliphoridae).
https://doi.org/10.1603/ME11194
Chaudhury et al. 2010.
Volatiles emitted from eight wound-isolated bacteria differentially attract gravid screwworms (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to oviposit.