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April 2017
ASK THE BUGMAN
Email questions to AskTheBugman . com or call ( 505 ) 385-2820
Insect swarming is a common occurrence in the spring .
Many species of ants will swarm about the same time every year or if their colonies get disturbed , forcing them to move . Termites are another social insect that swarms when the colony reaches a certain size .
It is important to be able to tell the difference between ant and termite swarmers , particularly if you see them in your home . Ants and termites have segmented bodies consisting of a head , thorax and abdomen . In ants , the three segments are easily visible because the areas where the segments connect are very narrow . In termites , the three segments are the same width ,
PRIME TIME
Spring Brings Insect Activity
making it more difficult to see the connections . Termite swarmers are basically pencil shaped . Also , both ants and termite swarmers have four wings . In ants , the two front wings are much larger than the two rear wings . This is easily seen . In termites , all four wings are basically the same size , which is also easy to see .
It is recommended that if you have spider webs around the exterior of your home , such as on window sills or in corners , that you leave them be . If you have termites swarming close to your home , some of the swarmers will get caught in the webs . It would then be a good idea to look at these webs periodically to see if any termites are present in them . A good pest control company will inspect any webs near your home for termite swarmers as well .
On another note , the Zika virus is in the news and is a major problem according to the World Health Organization . Most recently it has caused a lot of problems in Brazil , where people are not only getting the virus , but where there have also been cases of microcephaly . While the relationship between
the two diseases is not known , it has been recently suggested that microcephaly has developed in some people because of the pesticides used to control mosquitoes . Mosquitoes are the vectors behind the Zika virus . Most people in the United States who have developed the Zika virus have recently traveled to areas where it is common .
The mosquito known to carry Zika is the yellow fever mosquito ( Aedes aegypti ). This species is found throughout the tropical regions . In the United States , it is found in the southeast portion of the country , with small populations in Arizona , New Mexico and the Bay Area of California . In New Mexico , this mosquito has been found in the Dona Ana County area , but not further north .
It is possible for other mosquitoes in the genus Aedes to transmit the virus , but it hasn ’ t happened yet . If you travel to Latin America or to other tropical parts of the world , make sure you take plenty of a good non-DEET mosquito repellent . It is also a good idea to wear that repellent in New Mexico because we do have West
Nile virus and encephalitis .
To keep mosquitoes away from your home , reduce standing water on your property where mosquitoes can breed . Some species only need a half inch of standing water , and eggs of some species can hatch in a week or so . Make sure you change any pet ’ s drinking water and birdbath water .
If you have any pest questions , you can contact me at askthebugman2013 @ gmail . com or call me at 505-385-2820 . in
Sandoval County HISTORICAL SOCIETY Presents
ORIGINS OF MY BERNALILLO FAMILY
Alice Crespin Aguilar a descendant of Juan Griego and Pascuala Bernal will share some of her genealogy and her discovery that her ancestors were part of the Spanish settlers who accompanied Oñate on his expedition of 1598 . Juan Griego , a Greek Soldier , his wife Pascuala and children are listed in the Muster of January 8 , 1598 . Pascuala ’ s daughter Isabel Bernal marries Sabastian Gonzalez . It was common in those days to adopt the maternal surname and Juan Gonzalez Bernal , one of their sons did so . . In 1693 , Don Diego de Vargas brought settlers to recolonize the area and among them were some of the families of the original colonizers , including Juan Gonzalez Bernal who settled in the Angostura area ranching . DeVargas established a plaza de armas or military outpost and was referred to as “ Bernal ’ s Camp ”. Aguilar ’ s lineage can be traced for more than 400 years in New Mexico .
SUNDAY , APRIL 9 th — 2 PM
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of America ’ s entry into World War I on April 6 , 1917 , The Great War , a special three night documentary event explores through unpublished diaries , memoirs and letters how the conflict changed America and the world .
A SPECIAL 3-NIGHT EVENT STARTS MON APRIL 10 8pm
From Hwy 550 Turn north on the gravel road beside the new I-Hop continue to the end .
This announcement sponsored by the Town of Bernalillo
NewMexicoPBS . org
KNME 5.1