EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The battle to combat a red flour beetle infestation in Socorro took another step on Monday, Oct. 21.
And this time the El Paso County is getting involved.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court unanimously approved $25,000 in funding to help residents dealing with the pesky red flour beetles in the City of Socorro and surrounding areas.
County cfficials said the money will be used to buy pesticide that will be distributed to the Socorro community and surrounding areas.
“Beetles are natural. They’re common to this area. But for some reason, this year there was just this large infestation. And we all have to come together to try to get rid of them, as quickly as possible,” County Commissioner Iliana Holguin said.
Holguin adds that a distribution date has not been set yet.
“These pesticides will be available to residents, that’s one unit of pesticide per resident. We’ll have more information very soon about the distribution when that’s going to occur,” Holguin said.
Officials say the pesticide is safe to use in homes and it will be distributed to people who need it.
The infestation started in August but many residents are still dealing with the beetles now in October.
The City of Socorro has been working with entomologists from Texas A&M, the Texas Department of Agriculture and other agencies to combat the infestation.
As KTSM has previously reported, pecan shells seem to be the source of the infestation.
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