The Jacob Shapiro Podcast The Most Terrifying Insect You’ve Never Heard Of
May 16, 2025
Madison Darbyshire, a reporter at Bloomberg Weekend, dives into the terrifying world of the screwworm, a pest threatening U.S. ranchers. She discusses its historical eradication efforts and the financial burdens ranchers currently face. The conversation highlights how geopolitical factors and pandemic-related disruptions have allowed this menace to resurface. With pressing concerns over climate change, Darbyshire emphasizes the need for immediate action and innovative solutions to protect livestock and support ranching communities.
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Jacob’s Kibbutz Fly Experience
- Jacob Shapiro shares a personal story about working on an Israeli kibbutz producing sterile fruit flies to manage pests.
- This early experience sparked his lifelong interest in sterile fly technology and pest control.
Screwworm’s Biological Threat
- The New World Screwworm is a fly whose larvae eat living flesh by burrowing deeply into wounds on animals.
- Its ability to infect whole regions through wildlife makes it particularly dangerous and impactful economically.
Sterile Fly Breakthrough Story
- The sterile male screwworm technique was pioneered after WWII using gamma rays to disrupt reproduction.
- Mass releases of sterile males successfully eradicated screwworms from the US by creating a reproductive barrier at the Darien Gap.