The following is a brief summary of important dates and research highlights of the USDA-ARS Screwworm Research Unit. It is not within the scope of this website to present a concise description of all research, conducted on screwworm; however, all screwworm research, conducted by USDA-ARS and other scientists, did have an impact on understanding the biology, ecology, physiology, genetics, rearing and control of screwworm. The Miscellaneous Publications number 62, of the Entomological Society of America, "Symposium on Eradication of the Screwworm from the United States and Mexico," O. H. Graham, 1985, is recommended reading for additional information. Any comments or suggestions concerning this section should be directed to John.B.Welch@aphis.usda.gov
 

A major portion of the information presented below is provided by Norvan L. Meyer and Ocleris Simpson. 1994. History of the Mexico-United States Screwworm Eradication Program. New York. Vantage Press. 367 pp. Additional information was provided by O. H. Graham and others.
 

1934 USDA-ARS research station is established at Valdosta, Georgia to conduct research on the biology and control of screwworm.

Scientists include E. W. Laake and E. F. Knipling.
 
 

1935 USDA-ARS receives funding for screwworm control and research in the Southern United States.

R. C. Bushland is hired to work in the USDA-ARS research laboratory in Dallas, Texas.

R. C. Bushland begins research into the development of an artificial diet (meat/blood/formaldehyde) to rear screwworms.
 
 

1936 USDA-ARS research station at Valdosta, Georgia, is closed.

E. F. Knipling transfers to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas to study overwntering

screwworm populations.
 
 

1937-1938 E. F. Knipling and R. C. Bushland transfer to USDA-ARS laboratory in Menard, Texas, which was designated as the screwworm research laboratory with the principal goal of developing new, improved control methods for screwworm.

R. C. Bushland begins research into chemical control of screwworm.

Insecticidal wound treatment, Smear 62, is developed for screwworm infested wounds.

E. F. Knipling develops the sterile male theory of autocidal control for screwworm.
 
 

1939 R. C. Bushland transfers to USDA-ARS laboratory in Orlando, Florida to conduct research on mosquito control.
 
 

1940 E. F. Knipling also transfers to Orlando to conduct research on insects affecting man.
 
 

1946 R. C. Bushland transfers to USDA-ARS laboratory in Kerrville, Texas.

E. F. Knipling transfers to USDA-ARS headquarters in Washington, D. C.
 
 

1950 A. W. Lindquist introduces E. F. Knipling to H. J. Muller's research regarding genetic mutations (including sexual sterility) in fruit flies exposed to X-rays.

R. C. Bushland and D. E. Hopkins initiate experiments at the Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, to see if screwworms could be sexually sterilized using X-rays.
 
 

1951 First field test of the sterile male technique is conducted on native screwworm flies on Sanibel Island, Florida, using sterile flies reared at the laboratory in Kerrville, Texas.
 
 

1952-53 Second field test of the sterile male technique is conducted on native screwworm flies on Sanibel Island, Florida, using sterile flies reared at the laboratory in Orlando, Florida.
 
 

1954 Screwworm is successfully eradicated from the island of Curaçao, Dutch East Indies, off the coast of Venezuela, using sterile flies reared at the laboratory in Orlando, Florida.
 
 

1955-1957 Mass rearing techniques are developed for screwworm.
 

A mass production facility for rearing screwworms is constructed at Bithlo, Florida.

A "Florida" strain of screwworm is developed for mass production in the sterile fly facility at Bithlo, Florida.

Screwworms are successfully eradicated in a field test in a non-isolated two thousand square mile test area on the East coast of Florida.
 

1958 Sterile flies produced at the Bithlo facility are used to reduce overwintering populations of native screwworms.

Mass production facility for rearing up to 20 million sterile screwworm flies per week is constructed at the abandoned Hendrix Air Base near Sebring, Florida, and begins production.
 

1959 The Southeastern Screwworm Eradication Program is successfully completed one year ahead of schedule as a result of releases of flies reared in Bithlo and irradiated at Orlando by USDA-ARS technicians.
 

1962 Sterile screwworm flies produced at the Kerrville laboratory are used to start eradication program in Texas.

A screwworm eradication program for the southwestern United States (excluding Arizona and California) is initiated with the completion of the sterile fly mass production facility, funded by the Southwest Animal Health Research Foundation (SWAHRF) at the inactive Moore Air Base near Mission, Texas.
 

1963 B. G. Hightower and colleagues begin study of screwworm ecology in Texas.

L. LaChance begins studies of screwworm genetics.

A. H. Baumhover begins studies on sterile fly distribution.

M. M. Crystal begins studies on chemosterilants.
 

1966 Screwworm is eradicated from the United States (However, Texas is usually reinfested each spring by flies migrating north from Mexico until about 1982).

United States and Mexico officials begin a study of the feasibility of eradicating screwworms from Mexico.
 

1972 The newly formed Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) is given responsibility for the Screwworm Eradication Program (prior to this, the units that comprised APHIS were a part of ARS).

USDA-ARS assumes the responsibility for scientific research support of the USDA-APHIS Screwworm Eradication Program.
 

1976 The fly strain "009" is developed for use in the sterile fly production facility.
 

1977 Scientists of the Screwworm Research Unit relocates from the laboratory at Mission, Texas, to the sterile fly production facility near Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico.
 

1978 The chemical attractant, Swormlure-2, is developed by R. R. Grabbe.

The Screwworm Adult Suppression System (SWASS) is developed by J. W. Snow, J. Goodenough and other scientists.
 

1979 The fly strain "Aricruz" is developed for use in the sterile fly production facility.
 

1980 The fly strains "DE-9" and "Sinaloa" are developed for use in the sterile fly production facility.
 

1981 The fly strain "V-81" is developed for use in the sterile fly production facility.
 

1982 The fly strain "A-82" is developed for use in the sterile fly production facility.
 

1983 The chemical attractant, Swormlure-4, is developed by J. W. Mackley and H. E. Brown.

The USDA-ARS Screwworm Research laboratory at Mission, Texas is closed.
 

1984 A new gelled diet is developed by R. L. Harris, R. L. Mangan, O. H. Graham, and D. B. Taylor for rearing screwworm larvae.

The fly strain "VF-84" is developed for use in the sterile fly production facility.

The fly strain "Chetumal-84 is developed for use in the sterile fly production facility.
 

1985 The Screwworm Research Unit's San Jose, Costa Rica, field worksite is opened.
 

1987 The fly strain "Orange Walk-87" is developed for use in the sterile fly production facility.
 

1990 "Severn Run's Cazador," a German wirehaired pointer, is trained by J. B. Welch as a detector dog to search for screwworm-infested animals and for screwworm pupae.
 

1991 The fly strain "Costa Rica-91" is developed for use in the sterile fly production facility.

The Screwworm Research Unit's Cañas, Costa Rica worksite is opened.
 

1992 The fly strain "Costa Rica-92" is developed for use in the sterile fly production facility.
 

1993 Color Infrared satellite imagery is first used by Unit scientists to direct detection and surveillance activities based on classification of screwworm habitats during the Ebano, Mexico outbreak.

An "artificial wound" is developed by I. Ruiz, F. Poudevigne, and J. B. Welch to sample the egg-laying portion of screwworm fly populations.

The Screwworm Fly Simulation Model (SWFSIM) is developed by D. G. Haile, E. Daniels, J. B. Welch, and M. Vargas-Teran to model screwworm population dynamics and control.
 

1994 The Screwworm Research Unit's Costa Rica worksites are closed and scientists move to Panama City, Republic of Panama which then becomes the headquarters of the Unit.
 

1995 Development of the fly strain "Panama-95" is led by S. R. Skoda (Midwest Livestock Insects Research Laboratory) in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico for use in the sterile fly production facility.
 

1997 The Screwworm Research Unit's Miami, Florida worksite is opened to continue remote sensing research.
 

1998 A new starch grafted gel is developed by M. F. Chaudhury and A. Alvarez for rearing screwworm larvae.

USDA SCIENTISTS OF VARIOUS USDA-ARS SCREWWORM RESEARCH LABORATORIES