A dangerous parasite is spreading north through Central America into the US, and its weakness may be a very specific smell

A research project that quite literally involves studying stink may help protect livestock, pets and wildlife from one of the most destructive parasites in the Americas.

At Colorado State University, professor Jessica Metcalf is investigating the foul-smelling chemical signals that attract the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating blowfly whose return to the United States has alarmed animal health officials.

The parasite was eradicated in the U.S. more than 50 years ago, but it was detected again in Texas in early June, making better detection tools more urgent than ever, according to Phys.org.At the centre of Metcalf’s work is a simple but powerful question: what exactly is this fly smelling when it finds an open wound?

The answer could help scientists design more effective traps and prevent the parasite from spreading further across the region.Why the smell mattersMost people associate bad smells with danger, and for good reason.

When a wound begins to smell, it may be infected and filled with bacteria.