It started innocently enough. One of our Twitter followers, while happy to win an umbrella from us back in March, decided he wanted to see if another price was available. Twitter user @jarret23 began tweeting that he wanted to drive the mousecar. He even created a Facebook group: Get Truly Nolen to Let Me Drive the Mousecar!

His feelings did not fall on deaf ears. Although it is not possible for a nonemployee to drive a mousecar, we decided as a company to offer something we.ve never done before: rides in the mousecar. Even better, we turned his desire into a fullblown
South Florida mousecar parade!

We selected 5 of our Twitter followers who told us in 140 characters or less why they wanted to ride in the #MousecarParade. We then decided to schedule some stops along the way to help build up the event. We immediately reached out to Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale, whom we.ve worked with several times in the past. We brought Pizza Fusion Fort Lauderdale aboard as our lunch provider and then a final stop at Butterfly World for an on-site insect demonstration with yours truly!

How excited were people to have this opportunity? For some of them, it was a childhood dream as evidenced in these pre-event blogs:

http://bit.ly/dqSTMq

In addition to blogging and taking photos, our participants were given all kinds of goodies as part of the fun (shirts, umbrellas, Bug Baskets, etc!). They were also asked to shoot video and tweet under #MousecarParade, where they managed to exceed 300 tweets!

Ever wonder what it looks like for a #MousecarParade to come over the SE 17th Street Causeway in Fort Lauderdale? Look no further…

First stop . MODS, Fort Lauderdale!

It should be noted that none of this would have been possible without the complete buyin of our sales staff . they enjoyed the day as much as the #MousecarParade participants, so thanks guys and gals!

Thanks to MODS for the goodie bags and the Tarantula fun, among other things!

The next stop was lunch at @PizzaFusionFTL AKA Pizza Fusion in Fort Lauderdale. Here.s the approach and arrival:

Much like MODS, Vaughan Lazar and his awesome staff were extremely generous to our #MousecarParade participants and drivers. In addition to the delicious pizza and soda, Pizza Fusion donated hats, shirts, gift certificates and other assorted goodies. They are an amazing restaurant and we look forward to working with them again.

We then headed out to Butterfly World by way of Sunrise Boulevard, which without any pre-planning whatsoever, we somehow ended up with this fun shot:

The #MousecarParade eventually got to Butterfly World, where most of our participants had never been, including myself.

The group headed immediately to the on-site Bug Zoo:

I then began my presentation for the participants and other Butterfly World spectators:

Did I mention there were Butterflies?

So as you can see, the #MousecarParade participants and I had a great day on Saturday, July 24, all because one participant asked a simple question. But don.t take my word for it. Here.s what the participants themselves had to say afterwards:

Jennifer Thomas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skIacQUz8Dc

@TwittGoddess:
http://www.christinatierney.com/2010/07/25/on-the-road-withmousecar/

@MiamiShines:

http://www.blancastella.com/truly-nolen-mouse-car-parade/

@vicequeenmaria interviews me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF3ZbZI5XQk

@bachinaminuet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3zZKa0D0H0

@amandastewart:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW0l9lN9ygo

@EmilyOnTheAve:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_GPgsw6Rs

@jarret23:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s00-_A_sC8A

In addition, all of the videos from #MousecarParade can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TilsonPR

We can’t wait to do this again!

Always remember – The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry “The Bug Guy”

Divorce and war withstanding, some still believe love transcends all. If you’re doubtful, you can find the perfect argument for this philosophy in the lovebug.

Here is an insect that spends the vast majority of its mature life locked in love’s embrace.  Lovebugs mate even during flight, which occurs in the spring, fall and sometimes December in Florida. And when the male dies, the female will drag him around with her until she lays her eggs.

This insect’s passion is memorialized in all its nicknames – lovebug, honeymoon fly and double-headed bug, among them. Lovebugs, which are primarily found in the Southeast U.S. and in the Gulf Coast states are considered beneficial because the larvae eat dying vegetation in grass thatch, providing nutrients to the grass as well as thinning the thatch.

Not everyone sees their positive attributes, however. While they’re not big bugs, they can be a mess. Even diehard romantics distain lovebugs during season. If you’ve ever had to drive through a swarm of lovebugs – which can range into the hundreds of thousands during flight – you know why: The car is splattered with them and they’re not easy to clean off, especially after a long journey.

Never fear. Here’s a technique to remove dead lovebugs.

1. Spray the car with water, and then wash the affected area with a sponge, soap and water. Rinse.
2. Wet a dryer fabric-softener sheet in your soap bucket and use it to wash any lovebug remnants from the same area. The fabric softener and coarse texture of the dryer sheet break down the remains.
3. Rinse and repeat on other affected areas of the car.

Always remember – The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry “The Bug Guy”

The Super Bowl match-up between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints poses an important question: Will the Colts feel the Saints’ sting like a horsefly they can’t shake? Or will they easily swipe them away and claim the championship?

I’m sorry fans. I have no crystal ball and can’t help you with that question. I can, however, tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the horsefly.

No groans of disappointment, please. These insects can quickly draw all your attention if they bite you – whether you’re a horse or human.

These babies hurt – and they’re among the loudest and noisiest of flies, so you can see and hear them heading your way as well. Unlike some bugs that have more of a stinger, horseflies have mandibles that rip or cut the flesh – sometimes actually taking out a chunk of skin. Once they do the damage, they lick up their victims’ blood. It won’t make you feel any better to know that the females need a blood meal to reproduce.

Here’s some more bad news: Horseflies are present around the world. And their virtue – I know, it’s hard to believe – is that they’re an important pollinator of flowers.

This’ll ring truer to you: Horseflies are also known as gadflies, a term the dictionary defines as somebody regarded as persistently annoying or irritating. We’ll find out a week from Sunday which team – the Colts or the Saints – better earns the distinction.

Always remember – The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry “The Bug Guy”

Six months ago, we completed work at the O.K. Corral ®:

Now, beginning Tuesday, December 1, our next phase of insect eradication will take place from December 1-3 at The Bird Cage Theater, which back in the 1880s was once referred to in an article by The New York Times as “the wildest, roughest, wickedest honky tonk between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast.”

Assisting us with this project is Larry Riggs, Technical Fumigation Director for Ensystex and a self-described “Old West’ history buff. Larry will be monitoring the fumigation with state of the art Zythor Gas Fumigant and equipment manufactured by Spectros Inc.

The Bird Cage job has been measured as a 110,000 cubic foot structure. The infestation of western drywood termites are among the nuisance insects we will be eliminating, and we expect to have everything done within 72 hours.

According to reports, the Bird Cage Theater served as a theater, saloon, gambling hall and reportedly even a brothel over 120 years ago. A rough and tumble establishment in the Old West, 26 deaths occurred there during the eight years it was open. Historic figures such as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were among those that spent time at the Bird Cage Theater.

Have a Great Thanksgiving, Everyone! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry “The Bug Guy”

Fall’s brisk weather brings an end to summer pleasures – and annoyances. In fact, do you know who loves picnics as much as this guy?

While you may say sad farewells to swimming, walking barefoot and picnicking, good riddance is the operative sentiment for the likes of the yellow jacket.

Yellow jackets, those buzzy scavengers that hover over spilled soda and other sweets, will die when winter comes, only survived by fertilized queens who will start colonies anew come spring. Colonies are still very active in late summer and the wasps may seem even more plentiful as their eating habits change back to sugary food, including fruit and nectar, after concentrating on collecting proteins for their offspring.

An aggressive wasp, yellow jackets will sting if provoked and will sting multiple times. The painful bite can be fatal for those allergic to particular insect bites.

Often mistaken for honey bees, yellow jackets are wasps that differ in many ways. Their bodies aren’t covered with fuzz like honey bees. And they are not equipped as significant pollinators. Yellow jackets, no matter how annoying they seem, are a beneficial insect, eating flies, caterpillars and other bugs in addition to meats and fish throughout the summer.

As you hold your last picnics and barbecues before winter rolls around, keep in mind a few tips for keeping yellow jackets away:

• Keep food covered while you dine outside.
• Clear away all dirty dishes immediately.
• Cover beverages with a lid and drink with a straw. That will keep yellow jackets from getting in and stinging your mouth.
• Cover garbage cans and tie trash bags tightly.
• Talk to the nursery or garden center about bait traps or other insecticide based solutions.

Barry “The Bug Guy”

For most of 2009, Hurricane Season has been quiet.

However, since we have had five named storms over the last three weeks…

I thought it was important to remind you of these helpful pest control tips when preparing a hurricane plan:

• Address low-lying areas on your property that need to be drained to properly prevent long term accumulation of standing water.
  (Residents in Melbourne received 22 inches of rain in a 2008 24 hour period – there are reports of standing water still wreaking havoc even one week later.)
• Seal any openings or repair damage in the roof, walls, or windows of your home to keep out insects.
  (Without these seals, your home will soon become part of A Bug’s Life, Part Two.)
• Overturn plant pots, bird feeders and other containers that could create mosquito breeding grounds.
  (The less likely you are to need a can of OFF! If you follow this easy step.)
• Secure any trash containers so discarded foodstuff are not scattered by the winds and become magnets for rats and other pests.
  (No one wants to experience things that go scurrying in the night.)
• Trim overgrown grass or shrub areas before a hurricane to prevent those areas from becoming pest refuges during and after a storm.
  (In addition to protecting from pets, this can help keep tree limbs and shrubs from blowing away during a storm.)

By the way, with college football season kicking off this weekend, I have one team I’m picking, hands-down – I love the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets over Jacksonville State Saturday September 5.

After all, I am “The Bug Guy” – who else would I root for?

Barry The Bug Guy

Tips to Help Fans From Allowing Insects to Score Touchdowns

With college football season beginning Labor Day weekend and professional football starting one week later, millions of football fans around the United States are once again taking part in the art and spirit of tailgating. As grand picnics outside sports venues, tailgates are a perfect vehicle for unwanted insects to join the party; however, there are ways to keep pests from spoiling the fun.

For starters, it is important to know what type of insects will be on the offensive at a tailgate party before you can prepare a proper defense. There are three insects to be aware of during your tailgating festivities.

Crazy Ants, Mosquitoes and Brown Recluse Spiders all fit the profile of tailgate party crashers. Each of these insects has the ability to cause problems for food, guests and pets under the right conditions.

One proven method of keeping Crazy Ants away is to make use of properly sealed food containers, because food scent will otherwise attract these uninvited guests.

Meanwhile, with football starting during the warm-weather time of year, the range of impact mosquitoes can have during tailgating season is tremendous. It is important to drain any sources of standing water near your favorite tailgating spot. In addition, applying insect repellent repeatedly to exposed skin and clothing can help keep mosquitoes at bay while outdoors.

One of the sneakier pests at a tailgate is likely to be the Brown Recluse Spider. Because tailgaters often take their shoes off and relax in the hours prior to a football game, these spiders can crawl into shoes without warning. I cannot stress enough the importance of shaking out shoes prior to putting them back on in order to minimize the possibility of being bitten by a Brown Recluse Spider, and if you are changing clothes prior to the game, avoid keeping clothing on the floor as well.

By taking these simple precautions football fans around the country can keep insects from making touchdowns on bodies.

In the meantime, be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry The Bug Guy

As outbreaks of West Nile Virus among humans have slowly started to occur this summer, now is the time for people across the United States to be on their toes.

Last year, there were 1,356 West Nile Virus cases throughout the United States, with 44 fatalities. While the numbers are down from 2007’s totals of 3,630 cases and 124 fatalities, they show how serious this threat should be taken each year.

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne disease that was first seen in North America in 1999. Mild symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. As there is no specific treatment for infection or vaccine to prevent it, the most serious manifestation of West Nile Virus is a fatal inflammation of the brain in humans and horses, as well as mortality in certain domestic and wild birds.

Transmitted to humans through an infected mosquito’s bite, there have already been 58 confirmed cases of West Nile Virus this year. Of these cases, while none have resulted in fatalities, it is important for people to understand the importance of seeking medical care as soon as possible for persons who have symptoms suggesting severe illness.

There ere are several ways to help control the mosquito population to best prevent these diseases from gaining a stronger foothold. It is important to drain any sources of standing water in the yard. In addition, emptying old flower pots, tires and other containers of water can also help prevent the spread. Still water is a magnet for breeding mosquitoes.”
Please remember that any attempt to prevent mosquito bites should also include the following elements:

• From now until October, minimize your time spent outdoors, especially at dawn and early evening, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
• Apply insect repellent repeatedly to exposed skin and clothing.
• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.

In the meantime, be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry The Bug Guy

Many people are aware that an outbreak of certain harmful insects can stunt a garden’s growth in its tracks; however, there is a misconception that insects are no help to someone with a green thumb. In fact, insects with names like assassin bugs, bald-faced hornets, praying mantises and soldier beetles can help manage pest populations in a garden.

While complete prevention of insect pests in a garden is simply unrealistic, the positives that come with beneficial bugs should not be understated.

Beneficial bugs are one of the best-kept secrets in the gardening industry. These insects are likely to remain in your garden if there is a food supply for them and if you mix the variety of plants to bloom over as many months of the year as possible. In addition, gardeners can purchase several types of beneficial bugs at their local home improvement stores and often times from nurseries.

Other insects that serve as beneficial bugs include bumble bees, centipedes, dragonflies, damselflies, green lacewings, ground beetles, ladybugs, spiders, tachinid flies and yellow jackets.

As beautiful as a ladybug is, many people probably don’t realize they will eliminate aphids and tree lice from a garden. A praying mantis will eat just about any bad bug, from flies to crickets. By attracting beneficial bugs, a person’s garden has that much more of a chance to last all summer long.

Speaking of which, congratulations to the Bald Faced Hornet for winning the July Bug Off!

In the meantime, be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Beginning today, we’re starting our next “Bug-Off” competition on our Facebook page and also accessible through Twitter.

This month’s Truly Nolen “Bug-Off”: Which insect has the more colorful name?

We would like you, the reader of this blog, to vote for the insect you believe has the more colorful name – Bald-Faced Hornet or Lovebug!

You can vote either in the comments section of my blog, on Twitter at @TrulyNolen, or the Facebook page for Truly Nolen Mousecar.

To access the company on Twitter, visit http://www.twitter.com/trulynolen. To access my friend on Facebook, visit http://tinyurl.com/Bugoff3.

Voting will take place July 1-14, and on the 15th of July, the winning bug will be announced on Facebook, Twitter and in my blog.

In addition, three voters (one from each avenue) will be randomly chosen to win some fabulous Truly Nolen Truly-Wear merchandise.

I look forward to you continuing to help us determine a Bug-Off winner each month!

In the meantime, be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry The Bug Guy