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”

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”

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

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

Once again, protecting your home from termites and ants is a billion dollar proposition nationwide, and one Dr. Chris Christensen, Lexington Branch Manager, and I will be discussing on Wednesday, May 13 at 12:40 p.m. Eastern on WLEX-NBC 18 in Lexington, Kentucky. WLEX’s website address is www.lex18.com.

Our “Bug-Off” Competition for May continues through Thursday, May 14 on our Facebook page and also accessible through Twitter.

This week I wanted to briefly discuss bedbugs.

Bedbugs have been prevalent in the news throughout the country after investigative reports found some hotels crawling with them. And that is how bedbug infestations usually happen: People bring these unwanted guests home with them. Add in the fact that bedbugs can live up to 18 months without feeding, and that a female bedbug can lay over 500 eggs in a lifetime, and it’s not hard to understand how an infestation can occur.

Cleanliness has nothing to do with an infestation: Bedbugs are attracted to carbon dioxide, which every human puts out. They feed on blood, not dirt. So no matter how well-scrubbed a dwelling is, an infestation could happen. Heavily used hiding places are evident by black or brown spots of dried blood excrement on the surfaces where the bugs rest. Eggs, egg shells, and cast skins may be found near these places. Usually there is an offensive odor where bedbugs are numerous.

The following bedbug prevention tips will help you reduce your risk of bedbugs:

• Thoroughly check your belongings after a hotel stay.
• Wash all bedding regularly in hot water. The water should be at least 120 degrees.
• Vacuum floors regularly. Use the brush tool of your vacuum to vacuum your mattress. Use the crevice tool to vacuum crevices in the mattress and your baseboards.
• Use a plastic cover over your mattress. Bedbugs can’t hide on the plastic cover.
• If you purchase used furniture, examine it for bed bugs. Pay special attention to used mattresses and bed frames.
• Check your own bed for bedbugs from time to time. Catching them early will make bedbug treatment easier if bedbugs do occur.

You can also consult a pest control professional as they will be able to provide treatment for the problem and help assist you in finding where these creatures may be hiding.

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 many homeowners in Florida use ficus trees and hedges to insulate themselves from their neighbors, a new immigrant has migrated to the Sunshine State but is not being welcomed with open arms. In fact, the Fig Whitefly, much like the vampires made popular in True Blood and Twilight, is sucking juices from ficus, which in turn is causing nightmares for homeowners.

An exotic species, the Fig Whitefly is native to Burma, China and India but at some point migrated to Florida due to the abundance of ficus trees and pristine weather conditions and has the capability of inflicting millions of dollars of damage. These insects typically feed on the underside of ficus leaves with their “needle-like” mouthparts. When they suck the juice from the leaves, it causes the leaves to turn yellow and drop from the plant. Depending on the condition of the plant, you may also see branch dieback and sometimes plant death.

With the winter holidays around the corner, the last thing people want to do is worry about whether their prized ficus trees are being destroyed by Fig Whiteflies. Trimming hedges on a regular basis and bagging the clippings to reduce the chance of spreading the insects.

Other important steps include considering the landscape and the surrounding environment before taking steps to control this insect and monitoring for early signs of an infestation.

When a homeowner does find an infestation, they can call a pest control professional to help remove the problem. In terms of our services, our ornamental program is designed to treat insects such as whitefly, aphids, scales and caterpillars.

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! In addition, we are now on www.twitter.com – be sure to say hello @TrulyNolen!

Barry The Bug Guy

As I am traveling later today to California for two television appearances this week, I am adding this entry today instead of Tuesday for I don’t know how much writing time I will have tomorrow.

I will be discussing the recent western United States outbreak of scorpions due to the on-going fires in the area on Tuesday, November 18 between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Pacific on KMIR-NBC in Palm Desert, CA and on Wednesday, November 19 on the 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts on KFMB-CBS in San Diego. KMIR’s website address is www.kmir6.com and KFMB’s website address is www.cbs8.com.

One of the most frightening of all common household pests, the scorpion is also one of the most difficult to eliminate. Although scorpions ordinarily do not attack unless disturbed, their sting can be quite painful – and in the case of one species found in the U.S., it can be fatal.

The deadly species, Centruroides sculpturatus, is commonly referred to as the bark scorpion. It is one of the smaller species of scorpion, usually less than an inch long, yellow to yellow brown in color, with two black stripes on its back. It is found throughout the desert Southwest including Arizona (where it was first discovered in Tempe in 1927), western New Mexico, northern Mexico, and the west bank of the Colorado River in California. This species was first discovered in Tempe, Arizona, in 1927.

Altogether, more than 30 species of scorpions are found in the southern and western United States, including scorpions common to New Mexicans such as the striped scorpion (vaejovia spinigeris) and the Desert Hairy scorpion (hadrurus hirsutus). While these non-deadly species can inflict a painful sting, serums are available to relieve the more severe symptoms.

Regardless of their specific species, scorpions are among the most difficult of pests to control, because scorpions normally move about on the tips of their eight legs, with their bodies seldom touching the surface. As a result, many pesticides are not as effective, since most common pesticides depend on physical contact with the animal’s body. One effective way to eliminate them is to remove their food supply, but it can take quite some time for that approach to work.

Most of all, be advised that scorpions are sedentary and prefer the most humid available locations. Therefore, never store your clothes on the floor. If you happen to do so, shake them out before wearing them again.

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

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