The Great Wheel of Seasons

It's almost summer. June 21 is the Summer Solstice: in Bronx County, New York (longitude W73.9, latitude N40.9), the sun will rise at 5:24 a.m. and set at 8:31 p.m. (United States Naval Observatory)

With summer comes barbecues, trips to the beach, the sacking of yet another beauty pageant contestant, and of course, ticks.

Since last year, scientists at the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station maintain the "Tick Index" during the summer months at www.fordham.edu/tick: