Red Flour Beetle Information & Updates

9/22/23

10am Update:

No significant change in status.  Penny Newman facility staff continues to load trucks daily to remove the hulls, expecting the removal of the almond hulls to be complete by end of the day tomorrow. Following the removal, they will apply treatment to the ground to kill any remaining red flour beetles.   There will be a text sent, Facebook post and website post regarding the time and date when the city starts spraying/fogging the residential areas.

9/20/23

The City of Levelland staff received information from the Penny Newman facility staff that they expect to have the almond hulls completely removed by this Saturday (9/23) and the cotton seed to be removed by next Saturday(9/30). Also, to clarify on the spraying while they load hulls: We are required to follow chemical label directions when applying treatments. We cannot spray/fog if the wind speed is above 10mph.

9/18/23

10am Update: 

The City of Levelland is continuing to coordinate with Penny Newman Grain Co staff as they load and haul the almond hulls. As soon as the hulls have been removed, the city will start working through the residential areas with the fogger to help reduce the red flour beetle population.

9/15/23

10am Update

The City of Levelland staff is continuing to coordinate with Penny Newman to spray/fog as they load trucks. Penny Newman is working to remove all of the almond hulls and cottonseed from the facility and will treat the entire property after all commodities have been removed.

9/14/23

The City of Levelland staff is continuing to coordinate with the Penny Newman facility as their trucks arrive throughout the day to spray/fog as they load each truck. We are expecting the number of trucks to increase over the next few days to move these hulls out as soon as possible.The City of Levelland staff is continuing to coordinate with the Penny Newman facility as their trucks arrive throughout the day to spray/fog as they load each truck. We are expecting the number of trucks to increase over the next few days to move these hulls out as soon as possible.

9/13/23

10am Update

The City of Levelland Staff will be spraying/fogging at the Penny Newman facility as they load trucks starting around 8am tomorrow. This is an effort to reduce the number of beetles being displaced as the piles are being moved. This is not going to reduce the numbers completely, but should have some level of effectiveness. The plan is to continue to spray/fog at Penny Newman while they load each day. Once they have removed the majority of the hulls, staff will spray/fog the rest of the city starting in the Kauffman Addition.

9/11/23

10am Update

The City of Levelland has been granted a 2(ee) waiver from Texas Department of Agriculture to target red flour beetles. We will be using the exact same product we use for mosquito abatement.   A follow-up post will be made with all of the details regarding the spraying schedule and routes.   There will also be an update by staff tonight at the city council meeting. (6pm at Levelland City Hall, 1709 Ave. H)9/8/2310 am Update

The City of Levelland had a great meeting yesterday with representatives of Penny Newman, Texas Agri Life and a pest control company. We are exploring two options to resolve the red flour beetle infestation and hope to implement early next week. More news next week as we work over the weekend to examine the options. Again, thank you for your patience and understanding.
9/6/23The City of Levelland has received official results from the probes placed at Penny Newman Facility and there was no reduction in red flour beetle population. Code enforcement has begun issuing citations and will continue until the nuisance is effectively abated.The City of Levelland has received official results from the probes placed at Penny Newman Facility and there was no reduction in red flour beetle population. Code enforcement has begun issuing citations and will continue until the nuisance is effectively abated.

9/1/23The City of Levelland working with Texas Agri-Life and Texas Department of Agriculture have placed pheromone traps as well as 16 probe traps at the Penny Newman Facility.    The pheromone traps will counted and the probe traps will be removed on Monday for a combined data analysis. This is the final step in the nuisance abatement process so that the appropriate enforcement action can be taken.The City of Levelland working with Texas Agri-Life and Texas Department of Agriculture have placed pheromone traps as well as 16 probe traps at the Penny Newman Facility.    The pheromone traps will counted and the probe traps will be removed on Monday for a combined data analysis. This is the final step in the nuisance abatement process so that the appropriate enforcement action can be taken.

8/30/23Texas Department of Agriculture staff will be working around the industrial rail park and surrounding residential areas starting tomorrow 8/31/23 to place these pheromone traps to monitor the red flour beetle population. Code enforcement will use the data collected with these traps in conjunction with the probe test results to move to the next step of the nuisance abatement process.Texas Department of Agriculture staff will be working around the industrial rail park and surrounding residential areas starting tomorrow 8/31/23 to place these pheromone traps to monitor the red flour beetle population. Code enforcement will use the data collected with these traps in conjunction with the probe test results to move to the next step of the nuisance abatement process.

8/21/23The City of Levelland received the official report from Texas Agri-Life Entomologists and today issued nuisance abatement notices to all three facilities in the Industrial Rail Park Area.  All three facilities have 10-days from today to effectively abate the nuisance. Any facility that does not comply will be subject to the maximum fine which is $2,000/day for every day after the 10-day period that the nuisance remains. The City of Levelland received the official report from Texas Agri-Life Entomologists and today issued nuisance abatement notices to all three facilities in the Industrial Rail Park Area. All three facilities have 10-days from today to effectively abate the nuisance. Any facility that does not comply will be subject to the maximum fine which is $2,000/day for every day after the 10-day period that the nuisance remains.

8/16/23The City of Levelland and Texas Agri-Life Entomologists were able to complete sample testing for flour beetles at the three facilities in the Industrial Rail Park Area.  Preliminary results of the tests indicate that there are flour beetles present at all three facilities. We have to wait for the official report from the entomologists before taking nuisance abatement actions; the report should be complete in a few days. The City of Levelland and Texas Agri-Life Entomologists were able to complete sample testing for flour beetles at the three facilities in the Industrial Rail Park Area. Preliminary results of the tests indicate that there are flour beetles present at all three facilities. We have to wait for the official report from the entomologists before taking nuisance abatement actions; the report should be complete in a few days.

8/10/23Note from Mayor Barbra Pinner:
The City of Levelland staff and elected officials are working diligently to locate the source of the red flour beetle infestation that is currently attacking the Kaufmann Addition. After weeks of investigation and today's meeting with local and state officials, the City has more information about these pests. It is our hope to provide information to our community that could help residents more effectively fight the red flour beetles in their homes. Meanwhile, the number one priority is to positively identify the source of the problem. We hear you! -and we have been and continue to be diligent in finding a solution.Note from Mayor Barbra Pinner:
The City of Levelland staff and elected officials are working diligently to locate the source of the red flour beetle infestation that is currently attacking the Kaufmann Addition. After weeks of investigation and today's meeting with local and state officials, the City has more information about these pests. It is our hope to provide information to our community that could help residents more effectively fight the red flour beetles in their homes. Meanwhile, the number one priority is to positively identify the source of the problem. We hear you! -and we have been and continue to be diligent in finding a solution.

PowerPoint Presentation by AgriLife Extension: https://www.levellandtexas.org/DocumentCenter/View/5823/2023-Levelland-Tribolium?fbclid=IwAR1Bxv0E7VyzllDWPuOCvI5GqDgL6AobBcPD_M-BtGV5PJbeSANpfecfnXw
Red Flour Beetle Management Tips: https://hockley.agrilife.org/files/2023/08/Red-flour-beetle-management-sheet.pdf
Information on the Red Flour Beetle: https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/insects/flour-beetle/