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Talking "BugMobile" Revs Up For Its Third Season - February 2002
February 22, 2002
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - If you attend a county fair or other event this year and find yourself talking to a Volkswagen Beetle painted like a lady bug, do not be alarmed, you are joining the thousands of children and adults who enjoy interacting with "The BugMobile! TM", the one-and-only talking car.
The Pennsylvania IPM program's "The BugMobile! TM" kicks off the 2002 season at the Philadelphia Department of Health March 31- April 6 for Public Health Week.
"The BugMobile! TM" is a roving educational unit -- painted to resemble a lady bug and equipped with speakers that allow it to "talk" -- that travels to schools, fairs and other public events to promote IPM and teach basic biological concepts about insects and other potential pests.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) aims to control pests -- such as insects, diseases, weeds and animals -- by combining physical, biological and chemical tactics that are safe, affordable and environmentally compatible.
"The BugMobile! TM" made its debut at the 2000 Pennsylvania Farm Show, delighting both adults and children. Last year, "The BugMobile! TM" traveled to 22 events, including the Philadelphia Flower Show, Ag Field Day at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and Penn State's The Great Insect Fair as well as many county fairs and other events. "The BugMobile! TM" has exposed over 85,000 youths and adults to the message of IPM in its first two years. "The BugMobile! TM" has the ability to attract and stop passers-by, inviting them to partake in an educational display with live insects and handouts.
"The public needs a better understanding of pests, best approaches to pest management (IPM) and, if necessary, proper pesticide choices and use," says Lyn Garling, IPM Education Specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. "Reaching the public effectively requires more than handing out written fact sheets or listing Web sites. Research has shown that a combination of touching, seeing, doing and hearing is important for retention and behavior change."
Garling says "The BugMobile! TM" has helped to raise awareness of facts such as these:
On a pound-per-acre basis, homeowners use more pesticides than farmers do. This causes undue exposure to the user and increased pollution. The EPA estimates all non-agricultural use of conventional pesticides at approximately 205 million pounds of active ingredient (20 percent of total use) per year.
Farmers and commercial pesticide applicators are required to attend education on the proper use of pesticides, while homeowners have no such training and often do not follow label instructions. Yet many of the materials they use have the same active ingredients.
People often spray unnecessarily and too much because they simply are afraid of "bugs." "One survey shows that peoples' top three fears are bugs, public speaking, and death," Garling says. "Increased understanding of insects and their lifestyles can reduce fear and unnecessary pesticide use."
"The BugMobile! TM" is often staffed by volunteers on its travels across the state, including Penn State Master Gardeners and County Extension Staff; FFA members; students and teachers; Penn State alumni; arboretum and nature centers staff; women's club members; and even once a mayor and city board members.
If you would like to host "The BugMobile! TM" at your school or event, or would be interested becoming a sponsor, contact Ed Rajotte, Penn State IPM coordinator, or Lyn Garling at (814) 865-1895.
The PA IPM program is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture designed to promote integrated pest management in both agricultural and nonagricultural situations. For more information, call (814) 865-2839 or visit the program's Web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/.