The New World screwworm lays its eggs in open wounds and burrows into skin. While human infections are rare, the insect poses an existential threat to cattle farming and dairy production. And it is now in Texas.

The New World screwworm fly is threatening the $113 billion U.S. cattle industry for the first time in more than a half century, with an infestation from its flesh-eating larvae confirmed in south Texas.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is concerned that a new factory isn’t expected to start work for more than a year on mitigating the New World screwworm fly infestation in his state

The New World screwworm fly has been confirmed in a three-week-old calf in West Texas, marking the first time in decades the parasite with flesh-eating larvae has affected cattle in the United States.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Thursday (June 4) that the USDA believes it can contain a case of New World screwworm in Texas, the first case in the state since 1966. Olivia Zollino reports.