What attracts biting insects to me?

Your breath is what attracts mosquitoes and other biting pests. The carbon dioxide (CO2), moisture and heat that you exhale let the female mosquito know that there is a warm-blooded mammal and meal in the area. She will navigate to you by following the plume of CO2.

How do I keep ants out of my home?

If the ants keep marching in, try a few of these all-natural ant removal tips: (1) If you can find where they are entering your home, block their entrance with a blob of petroleum jelly, then later caulk it with silicone. (2) Vacuum up the ants and wipe where they had been with a sponge to remove the scent trail. (3) Strew the following ant repellents in infested areas: catnip, mint, cucumber peel, tansy, southernwood, rue or crushed eggshells. (4) You can put a small amount of powdered soap near their entrance. The ants will carry it to their nest, where moisture will expand the soap. It could destroy the nest.



May is my favorite month of the year. What can you tell me about it?

May received its name from Maia, the Roman goddess of spring and growth. At one time, May was the third month of the year, but was later changed by the Romans to its current position as fifth month, with 31 days. May is one of the most beautiful months, because, usually, the snow, ice and most of the mud are gone, and the true summer heat has not yet arrived. Gardens begin to sprout, wild flowers bloom and the trees and grasses turn green. May is a month of great renewal for Mother Earth. Appropriately, the full moon in May is called the full flower moon (May 23 this year).

When did the first Kentucky Derby take place?

A: May 17, 1875, is the date of the running of the first Kentucky Derby. It took place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and jockey Oliver Lewis won, riding the horse Aristides to a winning time of 2:37:25. Today, the Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in May, this year on May 7.

My favorite attraction in New York City is the Empire State Building. What can you tell me about this marvel?

A: The Empire State Building is an architectural marvel. It was constructed during the Great Depression and remains a testimonial to the great city in which it stands. Excavation of the project started on Jan. 22, 1930, and building took only 1 year and 45 days to complete. The total cost of the project, which includes 102 floors, 6,500 windows, and tops 1,454 feet in height was $41 million.

An observation deck can be found on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet above the ground. The building’s tower serves as the communication systems for numerous radio and television stations.

Hollywood immediately fell in love with this piece of real estate. The Empire State Building has starred in 90 movies, including, of course, King Kong. On May 1, 1931, President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C., which lit the building and declared it “open for business.”