BECAUSE YOU ASKED
Q: My daughter and I thought we caught a glimpse of the Swetsville Zoo in Timnath on a recent Nissan Pathfinder commercial. Would you be able to confirm or deny for us?
A: Yes, it is the Swetsville Zoo featured in the commercial, where all the “animals” are fabricated by Bill Swets from scrap metal and old machinery parts. For information about the zoo, call 970-484-9509.
Q: We spent Easter weekend with our family in Trinidad, where we experienced what seemed like an infestation of small flying bugs. They were larger than gnats, but they had wings like baby flies. Thank goodness they did not bite or sting, as there were millions of them in the area. The insects were attracted to all light colors, our silver SUV looked almost black, and as we came back to Arvada, they seemed to vanish. What in the world are these things? – Connie Porter, Arvada
A: Whitney Cranshaw, CSU entomology professor, said that judging from the description, they are probably midges, although it is difficult to be sure without a photo. Adults of most midge species are somewhat mosquitolike in appearance. More specifically, the insects may be a kind of chironomid midge, or the “non-biting midges.” Although they can be present almost anytime during the warmer months, there is often a huge presence in spring.
Midges will often form prominent mating swarms, sometimes including hundreds of individuals. These typically occur over some landmark, which could be the hood of a car, a rock or almost anything. (Some kinds use light landmarks, others dark ones.) The swarms are made up of males, with females occasionally entering to mate.
Source: Whitney Cranshaw, professor of entomology/ extension specialist, Colorado State University
– Compiled by Bonnie Gilbert
HAVE A QUESTION?
Have you ever wondered how to register your child for school? What a political caucus is and how to get information about one? If you’d like information about something in the state outside Denver, send questions by e-mail to becauseyouasked@denverpost.com or mail to: Because You Asked, Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202. Include your name, city of residence and phone number.
