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Why the US Airdrops Millions of Worms on Central America Every Year
Every year, the U.S. drops millions of tiny, hungry worms from planes over Central America, but it's not a prank or a bizarre experiment—it’s part of an epic battle against screwworms! These worms are actually baby flies, known as screwworm larvae, that can cause terrible infections in animals by eating living flesh. So why drop them? The worms are made special in a lab so they can't reproduce, and when they mate with wild screwworms, it helps wipe out the whole screwworm population without any new eggs being laid. By doing this, scientists keep screwworms from spreading and harming livestock, pets, and wildlife in both Central America and the U.S. It’s a powerful and clever way to protect animals, keep ecosystems balanced, and save millions of dollars in potential damage every year!
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Published on 1 month, 1 week ago