Amy Murillo and Alec Gerry are leading a new effort at UC Riverside (UCR) to prevent the return of the New World screwworm — a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living flesh — to California. With about $507,000 in funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Murillo and Gerry will deploy baited traps across the state to monitor for early signs of screwworm presence. Their plan also includes outreach to veterinarians, livestock handlers and entomologists — groups most likely to encounter the pest early — so they can quickly detect and report any infestations. The researchers note that though the screwworm has not yet been found in California, its recent resurgence in Central America and southern Mexico — likely aided by movement of infested animals — means the state must remain vigilant.