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

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 do you dislike more?

We would like you, the reader of this blog, to vote for your least favorite insect among the Cockroach and Dung Beetle.

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/na677n.

Voting will take place June 1-14, and on the 15th of June, 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

Most people treat their dogs and pets as members of the family, but much like a cold that causes humans to feel sick, people need to be aware of how their pet’s health can be affected by indoor and outdoor insects.

For example, it is easy to forget that pets suffer from mosquito bites too.  Mosquitoes feed on blood, so anytime your pet is in an active mosquito area, they are at risk of being bitten, which can cause conditions such as heartworm disease, which is a slow developing disease that often proves fatal for cats and dogs if left unchecked. In fact, one flea can bite your pet more than 400 times a day, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s FDA Consumer magazine. So how can responsible pet owners take precautions against mosquitoes?

Disrupting mosquito breeding grounds is the key in helping to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne viruses. 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.

Meanwhile, fleas and ticks are no picnic for pets either.  A flea’s saliva can cause anemia, dermatitis and a transfer of tapeworms to a pet, while ticks can cause even more severe conditions such as muscle weakness, loss of coordination and sometimes even death from respiratory failure.

Here are some tips I recommend to help protect your pets from pests ruining their spring and summer:

• Check your pets regularly for mosquito bites, flea dirt and ticks, especially after being outdoors. Any excessive scratching, licking or grooming behavior is normally a tip-off that a bite or infestation has occurred.

• Be aware of tall grassy areas where fleas and ticks gather and try to avoid them.
• Be aware that dawn and dusk is when mosquitoes are most active, so try walking your pets outside of these parameters.
• Be proactive inside the home by thoroughly washing pet bedding and regular vacuuming.
• Consult a veterinarian about heartworm protection, as many monthly pill options exist, and before using any flea and tick treatment.
• If confronted with an indoor pest infestation, contact a licensed pest professional to treat the problem.

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