Screwworm Kills 80,000+ Cow Orgasms Per Day—But Entomologists Say We Should Feel Bad for the Flies
In a plot twist that’s both horrific and hilarious, the New World screwworm has officially become the internet’s most controversial influencer. The parasitic fly larvae, known for burrowing into the flesh of livestock (and occasionally humans), are now the center of a bizarre online debate: should we feel bad for the maggots? After a viral video showed a rancher angrily swatting a screwworm-infested wound, TikTok’s “bug rights” community erupted, arguing that the larvae are just trying to survive in a broken system. Meanwhile, economists point out that screwworm outbreaks have literally sent cattle futures into a tailspin—destroying $3 billion in livestock value since 2023. The irony? The same people crying for the worm’s survival are the ones who scream “purge them all” when their steak costs $1 extra. Nature is a parasite, and so are we, apparently.