Pecan weevil quarantine extended in southeast NM, could be permanent

In hopes of eradicating the notorious pecan weevil, state officials announced another emergency quarantine to restrict shipments from four southeast New Mexican counties. Effective Monday, the 180-day quarantine applies to Chaves, Curry, Lea and Eddy Counties. During that time, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture intends to solicit input from the pecan industry to make the ban permanent. The restriction is in response to continual weevil findings in both residential and commercial pecan operations throughout the region. Yard trees in Hobbs, Lovington, Roswell, Clovis and Artesia were found to be infested with the insect, read a Friday news release from the New Mexico Agriculture Department. The weevil bores into the nut meat to lay its eggs, leaving the larva to feed on the nut meat. This process destroys the nut meat, making the nuts unfit for human consumption.