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

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

I hope everyone had a good week and is looking forward to a fun April. I will be discussing how to keep these termites and ants from eating you out of house and home on Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 Eastern on WFTX-FOX 4 in Fort Myers/Naples, Florida and on Thursday, April 9 between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on WTSP-CBS 10 in Tampa/St. Petersburg. WFTX’s website address is www.fox4now.com and WTSP’s website address is www.10connects.com.

Now that spring has sprung, it’s time to guard our gardens against one of the most pervasive pests: the aphid.

Aphids are the bane of gardeners large and small. There’s a variety of aphid for just about every plant, and in large numbers they can do hefty damage. They’ll cause leaves to curl and yellow, as well as to become distorted – and may do the most damage in warm weather, up to 80 degrees. Grown plants can withstand the damage, but it still warrants controlling. Aphids can also spread viruses among crops such as pumpkins, melons and cucumbers.

The small insect, which emits a sticky substance known as honeydew, has many natural predators, giving gardeners a choice other than a chemical attack. Insecticides will kill beneficial bugs right along with aphids.

Other insects, ants in particular, may work to protect the aphid as their honeydew is a source of food. The presence of ants as well as insects that are the aphid’s natural predator – ladybugs and lacewings to name two – may be a clue that you have a large aphid population, according to the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program Online, a website that’s a great resource.

Check for aphids often, at least two times a week, to catch evidence of the insect before the population gets out of hand. Aphids become more difficult to control when damage appears, because they can take refuge from chemicals and predators behind the curling leaves. Before planting your garden, make sure to check surrounding plants and trees for aphids. If you find any, clip leaves and discard them.

Ladybugs, lacewing and syrphid flies can help control aphids. (The offspring of lacewing, called aphid lions, have a voracious appetite for aphids). The best enemies are those that are native to your garden. But buying a batch of ladybugs from your local nursery may help control the population, even if they’ll tend to fly away in a few days.

There are other chemicals that can be used if these remedies don’t do the job. But hopefully, this is enough to give you a starting point.

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

I touched upon the 2008 Hurricane Season in a previous entry, and at that time, all was quiet in the Atlantic Ocean. I did not address Tropical Storms specifically (the precursor to Hurricanes) and I believe most people (myself included) don’t ever expect Tropical Storms to cause that many problems.

Since that time, Tropical Storm Fay tested the patience of every resident of Florida by making landfall a record four times and dumping copious amount of rain throughout the state despite never becoming a hurricane!

In addition, with Tropical Storm Gustav just one week later threatening to become a hurricane by this weekend, 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 one recent 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.)

Therefore, being aware that Tropical Storms can cause problems too is very important to any pest control prevention plan. Following the above easy steps will help assist that plan.

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 Thursday August 28.

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

Barry The Bug Guy

I was recently asked to help diagnose a potted plant issue that was causing some stress for a woman in New Mexico. With an arena for basketball in New Mexico affectionately nicknamed “The Pit”, my first thought was perhaps it was something in the air that was causing problems.

Then I examined the problem a little more closely. The woman bought a cheap bag of potting soil and transplanted a plant they had received as a gift. The plant died, but not in a normal plant way. Instead, the plant became slimy, began to rot and fell over.

As there are no warning labels on potted soil bags, it was probably an unforeseen circumstance that something like this could happen. Therefore, here are some reasons why this may have occurred:

For starters, a potted plant has a very limited amount of space and soil to grow; therefore, the plant will normally die if there’s an issue with the soil. Research at the University of Arizona suggests the most common cause of bad soil is a build-up of salts. Whether it’s fertilizers or tap water, small deposits can become a huge problem over a period of time. A great sign that there may be a salt issue with your plant is when a white crust appears on your pot rim or sides. Fortunately, the plant can be cured of the build-up by running a slightly-warm water in the amount three to four times a normal watering through your pot. The drainage hole will allow the dissolved excess salts to exit your plant. Doing this every three to four months can make a huge difference in your plant’s life expectancy.

A second possibly could be if the soil has been over watered. Slow-growing plants can be easily damaged if too much water is applied. Excess water has difficulty draining, which will cause roots to become injured and eventually rot. It is important to keep track of when you are watering your plants so as not to end up over watering them.

A by-product of soggy soil is the attraction of insect pests. From aphids, red spider mites and white flies to springtails and gnats, these insects can cause a whole slew of problems for your plant if not treated quickly. For most insect plant problems, general-purpose houseplant dusts and sprays and should do the trick, but your local pest control professional can also provide helpful advice.

While not everyone has a green thumb, hopefully these helpful tips will keep your plants on the right path to a long and fruitful life without worrying about any recurring soil issues.

Do you have any plant horror stories? Have you ever had an invasion of insects that took out a plant in record time? Or do you possess the Midas touch and have your own plant tips? I’d love to hear from you…

Barry The Bug Guy