Dr. Shawn Bolton VMO presented his Grass Roots Project. This webinar covered recent training, preparedness and response to New World Screwworm infestations. The presentation focused on surveillance methods including current and developing methods of active and passive surveillance to determine zines of infestation and effective distribution of flies in a Sterile Insect Release Program.

Dr. Bolton's project was formulated as the result of the screwworm infestation of Key deer in the Florida Keys on September 30, 2016. An immediate FAD emergency response team was deployed to the site to begin the eradication process which included the release of over 101 Million sterile make flies in the area. Eradication was declared on March 23, 2017. As the result of this incursion, it was apparent that a better surveillance and trapping of New World Screwworm flies needed to be developed.