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

With college and pro football season already well underway, millions of football fans around the United States are once again taking part in the art of tailgating. As glorified picnics outside sports venues, tailgates are a perfect vehicle for unwanted insects to join the party; however, there are ways to keep insects from spoiling the fun.

For starters, it is important to know what type of insects will be on the offensive at a tailgate before you can prepare a proper defense. 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 a traditional warm-weather sport, 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. If changing clothes prior to the game, avoid keeping clothing on the floor as well.

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 – interested? Visit www.facebook.com and friend the Truly Nolen Mousecar!

Barry The Bug Guy

Crazy is often defined as being affected with madness. One insect that drives homeowners mad, ironically, is the dreaded Crazy Ant – ironic because this particular pest doesn’t have the ability to sting or bite.

Named for their quick and erratic movements, Crazy Ants typically invade homes in huge numbers and feed on sugar, any type of food crumbs and other insects. During a recent outbreak in Houston, they were discovered to have damaged electrical equipment, clearly showing an eclectic taste to try something new to eat.

These critters have been identified on the top floors of skyscrapers on both U.S. coasts, outdoors throughout South Florida, and have even been found indoors over much of the eastern U.S. and in California and Arizona. Their lineage suggests they were first discovered in Florida back in the mid-1950s; however, they have become a severe nuisance over the last 10 years especially.

What makes them especially challenging is that they will nest indoors or outdoors. Their trails have been observed along sidewalks, buildings and gardens.

Due to their sheer numbers during an infestation, Crazy Ants can be especially tough to eliminate. One sure way to begin the elimination process is making sure all food in a home is sealed in containers and sealing any existing foundation crevices. As their contact with food is eliminated, Crazy Ants will begin to disappear.

Crazy Ants, like most ants, are also attracted to water, so drain your sink after washing the dishes and be sure to dry your counter tops. In addition, granular bait formulas applied outside a structure have proven to be the most effective treatment for controlling indoor ant infestations. Howeve,r this bait is only available to licensed pest-control operators who have proper training and equipment. Homeowner versions are available, but not as effective.

Have you ever experienced a Crazy Ant outbreak? Have you ever played Crazy Eights? Send me your crazy stories…

Barry the Bug Guy