The US plans to release billions of radiation-treated flies to stop flesh-eating maggots threatening livestock, wildlife, and pets.

The US has reportedly drawn up plans to breed billions of flies over Mexico in an attempt to eradicate a vicious variety of flesh-eating maggot.

The New World Screwworm Fly, which lays flesh-eating maggots, has appeared in southern Mexico. Scientists are concerned that the flies will migrate northward. To combat the threat, scientists are breeding sterile flies and casting them from airplanes over Mexico.