SCREWWORM ERADICATION—KNIPLING 415 
every member of the staff. R.C. Bushland gave over-all direction to 
the research program which was carried out by C. L. Smith, A. H. 
Baumhover, A. J. Graham, C. N. Husman, D. E. Hopkins, and F. H. 
Dudley. 
By July 1957 most of the necessary information and procedures had 
been developed. A report outlining plans, procedures, and facility 
needs for an eradication program was prepared and considered by Fed- 
eral and State regulatory officials. The Florida livestock industry was 
instrumental in obtaining State appropriations and through their 
Congressmen obtained Federal appropriations for the Department of 
Agriculture. The responsibility for carrying out the program at the 
Federal level was assigned to the Animal Disease Eradication Divi- 
sion of the Agricultural Research Service. 
In the fall of 1957 construction was started on a large screwworm 
rearing plant at Sebring, Fla. Plans called for completion of the plant 
by July 1958. 
Then came a real break. The winter of 1957-58 was one of the most 
severe ever experienced in Florida. By December it was realized that 
unusually cold weather might push the overwintering screwworm deep 
into Florida. The Animal Disease Eradication Division proposed the 
initiation of the eradication as soon as possible with flies produced in 
the pilot plant. Together with the Entomology Research Division 
they devised a plan for releasing sterile flies in a zone below the over- 
wintering line to establish a barrier and prevent or delay the normal 
northward spring migration. Fly production started early in Jan- 
uary and the number produced was gradually increased until a maxi- 
mum of about 12 million per week were released in mid-July when the 
large rearing plant came into production. This timely release program 
prevented screwworm buildup in the northern half of Florida. The 
alertness in putting this program into effect may make it possible to 
achieve eradication of the insect much sooner than expected. 
The eradication program, under the able direction of Drs. R. S. 
Sharman and D. L. Williams of the Animal Disease Eradication 
Division and Drs. C. L. Campbell and M. E. Meadows, Jr., of the 
Florida Sanitary Board, was in full operation by September 1958. 
By February 1959 few screwworm cases were being found in the entire 
State of Florida. These men and their staff members are to be com- 
mended for their alertness and effectiveness in the conduct of the pro- 
gram. Success in achieving eradication of the screwworm in the 
Southeast is assured. 
The research leading to its development and the eradication pro- 
gram itself are probably the most unusual ever carried out in the 
annals of insect control. Details of the program and the facilities 
required have been described in a United States Department of Agri- 
culture publication issued in July 1958 by the Florida Livestock 
4925205928 
