Mission:
The mission of the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory is defined by the combined missions of its two research units. The mission of the Tick and Biting Fly Research Unit is to provide the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program of USDA-APHIS- Veterinary Services, the U.S. cattle industry, and the public, technology for eradicating or controlling ticks and blood-feeding flies of veterinary and medical importance. The mission of the Screwworm Research Unit is to provide basic and applied research needed to facilitate the effort of USDA-APHIS to prevent screwworms from reinfesting Central and North America. Research by the Tick and Biting Fly Research Unit is done at the main laboratory in Kerrville, TX, and a sublaboratory, the Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory located at Moore Field, TX. Research by the Screwworm Research Unit is done at the laboratory co-located with the Screwworm Production Facility at Pacora, Panama, and at the Kerrville, TX, laboratory.