The New World screwworm (NWS, Cochliomyia hominivorax) has been moving north through South America and Mexico over the last couple of years. Just a few months ago, reports indicated that NWS was only 50–60 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border and continuing to move closer. On June 3, the first case of NWS in Zapata County, Texas, was confirmed after fly larvae removed from the umbilicus of a 3-month-old calf tested positive. Since then, there have been 28 confirmed cases in Texas and one in New Mexico, all within the last 30 days. According to the USDA Confirmed Cases Dashboard, the affected animals include 17 cattle, three goats, seven sheep, and two dogs.

The NWS is a type of blowfly (family Calliphoridae), a group of shiny metallic blue, green, or black flies whose larvae typically feed on decomposing flesh. However, unlike other blowflies, NWS larvae feed exclusively on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, wildlife, pets, and, in rare cases, humans and birds. A single adult female can lay 200–400 eggs in the open wound and up to 3,000 eggs during her lifetime. Any open wound can attract NWS, including insect bites (ticks, cattle grubs, or horse flies), branding or tagging wounds, shearing and dehorning sites, cuts from broken fencing, and the exposed umbilicus of newborn calves. Eggs can hatch 10–12 hours after being laid, at which point the larvae, or maggots, burrow—or "screw"—into the flesh using their sharp mouth hooks. They feed continuously and grow rapidly, and a single wound may contain multiple infestations. The feeding larvae cause myiasis, a painful infestation in which maggots burrow into healthy tissue, resulting in severe tissue damage that can be fatal if left untreated. Adult NWS do not remain on their animal hosts. When not feeding or laying eggs, they typically rest in shaded, wooded areas.

Because infestations can spread quickly and have significant economic impacts, state and federal agencies are closely monitoring new detections. An interactive tracking tool, the Texas Screwworm Map, is available to monitor the spread of New World screwworm in cattle. The map also identifies infested areas and established quarantine zones. Although the presence of NWS poses a serious threat, experts emphasize that there is no need to panic, as many blowfly species closely resemble the New World screwworm. This pest was eradicated from the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, and researchers are optimistic that it can be eradicated again. As Texas enters a heightened state of awareness and coordinated response, livestock owners are urged to inspect their animals daily. Pet owners should also be aware that animals traveling to South America or other high-risk areas are at increased risk and should be routinely checked for wounds. Suspected cases in wildlife should be reported immediately.

For livestock and pets, report to the TAHC's 24-hour veterinarian call line at 1-800-550-8242.

For wildlife reports, to Texas Parks and Wildlife’s 24-hour biologists' call line at 512-389-4505.

For more information, go to screwworm.gov

Miniature Radar Tracks Miniature Pest

Mosquitoes play a major role in the transmission of diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika virus, and malaria, making them a significant public health concern worldwide. To better understand their movement and improve control strategies, researchers have successfully tested miniature harmonic radar (HR) tags that enable scientists to track individual mosquitoes in natural environments. These tags have previously been used on larger insects, such as beetles, moths, bees, and wasps. The handmade HR tags consist of two flexible wires and a semiconductor device, or diode, which is glued to the insect.

In a recent study, researchers demonstrated that the lightweight tags could be attached to invasive Asian tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) without preventing flight. Using handheld detectors, scientists tracked tagged mosquitoes in outdoor screen cages, coffee fields, and shaded parklands, collecting detailed information about their flight paths, landing locations, and daily movement patterns. The study estimated that mosquitoes typically disperse between 25 and 52 meters per day, providing valuable insight into how they search for hosts and move through different habitats. The tags were found to have a slight negative effect on flight performance, and 60% of the tagged mosquitoes died within the first 24 hours. Despite these drawbacks, researchers were still able to collect biologically meaningful data.

Scientists say the technology fills a long-standing gap between traditional trapping methods and direct observation, offering a clearer picture of mosquito behavior in the wild. This information could improve mosquito surveillance programs, guide more targeted control efforts, and ultimately reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

Researchers are already expanding the use of harmonic radar tags to study other disease vectors, including kissing bugs (subfamily Triatominae), which can transmit the parasite that causes Chagas disease. As the technology continues to improve, it may become an important tool for protecting both public health and agriculture from insect-borne threats.

Read the research: Siderhurst et al., 2026

Don’t Mess With Texas Citrus

TISI is offering FREE diagnostic services if you suspect your citrus has either the psyllid pest or the Citrus Greening pathogen, or you would like your citrus plants to be part of our screening survey.

The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) and the Citrus Greening pathogen (Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus) are threatening citrus in multiple Texas counties. By taking samples and monitoring the spread, it is easier to ensure that you and your neighbors are not affected. This pest and pathogen are extremely detrimental to Texas citrus, both economically and agriculturally. The presence of either can greatly affect citrus yield.

If you are interested in having your citrus trees checked or being part of the survey, please contact invasives@shsu.edu. If you are located within 200 miles of our headquarters, we can collect samples and/or provide traps and monitoring services. Otherwise, we will send you easy step-by-step instructions so you can do it yourself. Not only will we share the results and management strategies (where applicable), but you will become part of a multi-county monitoring survey that is striving to improve the health of Texas citrus!

Also Available: TISI offers educational workshops that highlight information about the Asian citrus psyllid, the pathogen Citrus Greening, and what you need to look out for in your own backyard. If you are interested in this, TISI will provide trapping materials, assist with management strategies, and more. Don’t waste another second. Help us stop the spread!

This program is designed to provide the education needed for professionals and students who are managing or learning to manage invasive species. The courses include the most current invasive species identification, control, and management techniques, and how to comply with local and federal regulations.

Participants may register and enroll at any time, and will receive a certificate of invasive species management from NAISMA upon completion of the program.

All live webinars are open to the public. Recorded webinars are available to members of NAISMA.

NAISMA 2026 Webinar Schedule:

• July 15, 1pm CDT- Practical Approaches to Managing Amur Honeysuckle. REGISTER.
• August 19, 1pm CDT- Webinar: Planning for the Unknown: Tools for Urban Forest Pest Preparedness. REGISTER.
• September 16, 1pm CDT- Webinar: Managing Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay. REGISTER.

Expect to Inspect

Wildlife Forever, partnered with state and federal agencies, launched a new interactive mapping tool called ‘Expect to Inspect’ to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). The platform allows boaters and recreational water users to quickly find state-specific AIS laws, inspection requirements, nearby decontamination stations, and boat-cleaning locations.

Because regulations vary between states, boaters traveling across state lines can unintentionally miss required inspection stops. The ‘Expect to Inspect’ map addresses this challenge by identifying more than 760 inspection sites, decontamination stations, and access points equipped with user-led cleaning tools. It also provides directions, operating hours, and contact information for scheduling professional watercraft decontamination. The aim is to make compliance more convenient and accessible.

Important: While cleaning stations are a great resource, they DO NOT count as a required inspection, and do not give permission to launch.

Wildlife Forever is also offering resources and funding opportunities for Western AIS managers for fully funded cleaning equipment, outreach kits, and educational materials to inform and empower AIS prevention. Four CD3 roadside waterless cleaning stations are available for high-priority locations. State, tribal, and local partners are encouraged to apply to help expand AIS prevention infrastructure and public awareness efforts

nationwide. To request an outreach kit, please fill out the form at the bottom of Expect2Inspect.org.

To request a cleaning station, please reach out to zburnside@wildlifeforever.org.

Priority will be given to high-traffic locations that intercept boaters moving between watersheds. Deadline to request materials is July 3, 2026.

Emerald Ash Borer Watch

The presence of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) has been confirmed in three new Texas counties: Clay, Montague, and Young County. EAB has now been confirmed in a total of 34 Texas counties, 36 U.S. states, and has expanded into five Canadian provinces.

Adult beetles were found in purple prism traps monitored by the Texas A&M Forest Service. Surveys and trap monitoring are vital for detecting and tracking the movement of EAB, especially as it shows little sign of slowing its expansion. Monitoring helps the Forest Service track beetle distribution and assess potential risks, enabling communities to implement management strategies. EAB can be spread through the movement of infested firewood, logs, and other wood products.

The following counties are “Infested” and “Quarantined”: Bell, Bosque, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Franklin, Grayson, Harrison, Hill, Hood, Hopkins, Jack, Johnson, Lamar, Marion, McLennan, Morris, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Red River, Rockwell, Rusk, Somervell, Tarrant, Titus, and Wise counties.

The emerald ash borer is a metallic emerald-green beetle with an iridescent coppery or reddish reflection. The adult beetle is bullet-shaped (10–13 mm) and has a characteristically bright red to purple coloration on its abdominal surface beneath its wings (elytra). One external sign of EAB infestation is the distinctive D-shaped hole adults leave in trees upon emergence. The larvae are white and slightly flattened, with a pair of brown, pincher-like appendages on the last abdominal segment. The larvae (up to 1.5 in) feed on the phloem and outer sapwood of ash trees, leaving S-shaped galleries that cut off the flow of nutrients, ultimately resulting in tree death.

If you believe you have seen an emerald ash borer, or EAB damage, please take a picture and REPORT IT! here.

The following invasive species removal opportunities and environmental workdays will be held throughout Texas this coming month:

July (multi-day): Friends of Oak Cliff Workday— Various Locations
Hosted by The North Texas Master Naturalist every Tuesday and Saturday. Come garden with native plants. Weed out invasives, prune, plant, and enjoy the horticulture of local parks. Cancellation will occur in the event of rain.
Time: 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Additional information: HERE.

July (multi-day): Tuesday Workday at EIH— Houston-Clear Lake
Hosted by the Native Plant Society of Texas every Tuesday. Learn how to work with native plants. Volunteers will be taught propagation, planting, and preparation methods. No experience required. Volunteers must be 18 or older.
Time: 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Additional information: HERE.

July (multi-day): Restore State Parks- Volunteer Opportunities — Various State Parks
Hosted by The Get Outside Alliance. Find a state park near you where you can volunteer to clear brush, remove invasives, transplant seeds and native plants, or work alongside park staff.
Time: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Additional information: HERE.

July (multi-day): Western Heights Cemetery Volunteer Day — Various Locations
Hosted by The North Texas Master Naturalist. Join volunteers for prairie restoration, seasonal planting and seeding, removal of invasives, and assist in prairie restoration planning efforts.
Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Additional information: HERE.

July 9: Blanco State Park Workday— Blanco
Work alongside a maintenance team to clear excess debris and remove invasive species from the Blanco Riverbank.
Time: 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Additional information: HERE.

July 11: Volunteer Opportunity: 2nd Saturday Habitat Workday — San Antonio
Hosted by the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. Join the members of the community to help clean and manage the local habitat. The aim is to pamper some trails, remove some invasive species, and rehome a few native plants.
Time: 8:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
Additional information: HERE.

July 25: Last Saturday Volunteer Workday — Lumberton
Hosted by TPWD. Village Creek State Park needs to help with trail cleanup, restoration, and park beautification. All equipment will be provided, and volunteers will be granted free access to the park for the day.
Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Additional information: HERE.

Invasive Spotlight:

Onionweed
(Asphodelus fistulosus)

Onionweed (Asphodelus fistulosus) is dark green in color and grows 12–30 inches tall and 15 inches wide. It has numerous smooth, nearly cylindrical, hollow leaves. These leaves are similar in appearance to onion leaves but lack the onion scent and taste. The leaves are much shorter than the flowering stem and emerge from the base. Onionweed produces one or more stiff, upright, branched flowering stems that grow up to 2 1/2 feet tall. The flowers measure about three-fourths of an inch across and have six petals, each white to pink with a brown or reddish stripe along the center. Flowers are arranged alternately along the branches. The fruit is spherical and divided into three segments. Seeds are brown or black, wrinkled, pitted, and triangular. Each fruit contains three to six seeds, each about one-eighth of an inch long. These plants have thickened root crowns with many fibrous roots and no developed bulb.

Onionweed was introduced as an ornamental plant. Its seeds are prolific and can establish large populations quickly. It is a federally regulated weed that poses a serious environmental and agricultural threat. In pastures and rangeland, onionweed forms dense populations that exclude grasses and other desirable forage plants. It is also found along roadsides, in disturbed areas, suburban settings, and sandy or gravelly soils.

Onionweed has been reported in California, New Mexico, and Texas. Onionweed is commonly confused with some native species of onion (Allium spp.). For more information regarding management and removal, see the texasinvasives.org info page HERE. If you believe you have seen an onion weed or an infestation, please email a picture and the location it was found to invasives@shsu.edu.

Enjoy monthly videos about invasive species and/or people willing to teach us more about them. There are some amazing citizens and professionals around the world that poke, prod, chase, dive, and investigate everything they can about these alien invaders. Jump into this cinematic rabbit hole. You never know what new wonders you may discover.

Fish Movements on the Flower Garden Banks. MSU Marine Fisheries Ecology.

Researchers developed this video to describe how they are using acoustic technology to track fish movements, study fish behavior, and share some of the team’s findings to date. For example, Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans), an invasive species, along with Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus) and Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata), use the same habitat but at different times of day, which may help reduce competition for important resources.

Making Of a Million- Daytripping with the Nature Conservancy in Texas: Fresh Water. PBS.

Texans everywhere have experienced the wonder of our state’s beautiful waterways. The joys of summertime recreation include boating or tubing down rivers, fishing or swimming in lakes, running through sprinklers, or simply turning on the tap at home. Fresh water is a valuable resource that we and millions of animals depend on. This video visits some of the people who help protect our precious and protected freshwater sources.

The Yellow-Legged Hornet in North America. Forest Health Webinars.

Native and non-native bees support forests and agriculture by pollinating trees and crops. They also produce valuable products such as honey and beeswax. However, the detection of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) in 2023 poses a serious threat to these pollinator communities. This webinar will discuss the biology and potential impacts of this invasive hornet. CEU credit offered upon completion.

Revitalized Mason Park Is Unveiled in Houston’s East End Neighborhood Ahead of World Cup
Houston unveiled a sustainably designed soccer field and community improvements completed through the Impact Houston 26 initiative. The project aims to enhance local recreation, remove invasive species, and promote environmental stewardship. houstonpublicmedia.org

Toad Takeover: Why Millions of Tiny Toadlets Appear in Houston During the Summer
Gulf Coast toads often emerge in large numbers after heavy rains this time of year. Although their sudden presence may seem overwhelming, these amphibians are not invasive and play an important role in maintaining healthy local insect populations. houstonpublicmedia.org

Jurassic Viral Gene May Have Helped Apple Snails Start Laying Eggs on Land
Researchers discovered that the invasive apple snail's (Pomacea maculata) ability to lay protected eggs on land likely originated from a viral gene acquired more than 145 million years ago, helping explain its remarkable reproductive success. phys.org

Texas Agridrone Services Expands Service Area for Ranch and Pasture Spraying
Texas Agridrone Services is expanding its agricultural drone spraying operations across Central Texas to help farmers and ranchers manage weeds, brush, and invasive species with precise, efficient herbicide applications. dailypost.vu

Using Vessel Movements to Forecast Invasive Seaweed Spread
Researchers developed a vessel movement mapping tool that accurately predicts how invasive Caulerpa seaweed spreads between coastal areas, helping identify high-risk locations for surveillance and early intervention. aims.gov.au

Invasive Golden Mussels Prompt Sacramento County Emergency Declaration
Sacramento County has declared a local emergency in response to the rapid spread of invasive golden mussels (Limnoperna fortunei), which threaten drinking water infrastructure, agriculture, and native aquatic ecosystems as it continues to spread through California's waterways. fishbio.com

Vast Botanical Data Help Solve Darwin’s Puzzle of Why Some Exotic Plants Become Pests
Researchers have found that the traits that make exotic plants invasive depend on climate, helping resolve a long-standing question first posed by Charles Darwin. Their findings could improve predictions of which introduced species are most likely to become invasive. news.ucsb.edu

Could Your Dog Help Fight the Spotted Lanternfly? A New Study Makes the Case
A study found that trained pet dogs and their owners were more than twice as effective as experienced human searchers at detecting invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) egg masses in dense vegetation. news.vt.edu

River Wildlife Moves Freely Once Dams Are Removed – But So Too Can Invasive Species
A global review found that removing river barriers generally benefits native freshwater species but can also accelerate the spread of invasive species. The findings highlight the need to balance river restoration with invasive species management to maximize conservation benefits while minimizing ecological risks. theconversation.com

Google Aims to Release 64 Million 'Good' Mosquitoes in Florida
Google is seeking EPA approval for its “Debug” program, which would release male mosquitoes treated with Wolbachia in Florida and California to suppress populations of the disease-spreading Aedes aegypti. floridianpress.com

Invaders of Texas workshops train volunteers to detect and report invasive species as citizen scientists. Workshops, which are free, are designed to introduce participants to invasive species and the problems they cause, cover aspects of invasive species management, teach identification of local invasive plants, and train participants to report invasive plants using the TX Invaders mobile application. The workshop is 7 hours long (usually on a Saturday, but scheduling is arranged with each individual host group). The workshop satisfies Master Naturalist training requirements.

Sentinel Pest Network workshops serve to increase the awareness and early detection of a set of particularly important invasive species to help prevent their spread into Texas or their further spread within Texas. Participants learn to identify species such as the Emerald Ash Borer, Cactus Moth, Asian Longhorned Beetle, and other pests of regulatory significance, and to report them. The workshop is 3.5 hours long. The workshop satisfies Master Naturalist training requirements.