Getting Buggy
On summer nights, what flying beetle do you often see that intermittently flashes light in a unique pattern?
Firefly (or lightning bug). A firefly’s flashing pattern helps it find potential mates.
What is the name of the first national doughnut chain?
Krispy Kreme. It first opened its doors in 1937 and was the first company to mass-produce doughnuts.
What famous brand of ketchup was created over 120 years ago in Pittsburgh? Hint: The owner’s lucky number was added to the bottle.
Heinz. At the time Heinz Ketchup was created, Heinz offered 60 products. However, H. J. Heinz preferred his lucky number 57 to be added to each bottle. Although Heinz sells more than 100 products today, the number 57 can still be found on every bottle.
What expression means to take time to relax and appreciate the beauty of life?
“Stop and smell the roses.” The expression is said to be rephrased from the Walter Hagen quote, “Don’t hurry; Don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”
Often played on the beach, what Olympic sport involves two teams batting a ball back and forth with their hands over a high net to score points?
Volleyball. Volleyball was invented in 1895 as an indoor game for businessmen who found basketball too vigorous. Fun fact: Before it was called volleyball, the original name was mintonette.
On what island did Charles Darwin form his foundational theory of natural selection?
The Galápagos Islands. During his visit to the islands, Darwin discovered 14 species of finches that now make up the group known as Darwin’s finches.
What insect’s itchy bite is hard to avoid when spending a summer evening outdoors?
Mosquito. Only female mosquitoes bite, as they need blood to reproduce.
What doughnut store franchise was started by Bill Rosenberg when he opened his shop in Quincy, Massachusetts?
Dunkin’ Donuts. That first shop is still in operation today and has been restored to the original retro design it sported in 1948.
What is the name of the famous eating competition that takes place on July 4 every year on Coney Island in New York?
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Legend has it that on July 4, 1916, four immigrants gathered at the first Nathan’s hot dog stand on Coney Island and decided that whoever ate the most hot dogs would be declared the most patriotic among them.
What flower is native to North America and known for its strikingly large yellow bloom, valuable oil, and long stem?
Sunflower. The tallest sunflower on record was found in Germany in 2016 and measured 30 feet, one inch tall.
In the game of horseshoes, what is it called when the horseshoe encircles the stake?
Ringer. A ringer earns the player three points. The game of horseshoes grew in popularity during the American Civil War, and in 1910, the first world horseshoe tournament was held in Bronson, Kansas.
What fictitious island did the S.S. Minnow become shipwrecked on? Hint: It was supposed to be only a three-hour tour.
Gilligan’s Island. The island shown in the opening and closing credits is actually an island in Hawaii; however, the show was filmed in Studio City, California.
What tiny arachnids should you check your body for after time spent outdoors in the woods or high grass areas?
Ticks. They are most active in warmer weather and can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
What small, delicious treats made their introduction at Dunkin’ Donuts in the early 1970s using excess dough?
Munchkins (or doughnut holes). However, if you live in Canada, they are referred to as Timbits and are sold at Tim Horton’s locations. Fun fact: Eating approximately five Munchkins equates to eating one doughnut.
What state has the largest barbecue pit in the world?
Texas. The pit is 76 feet long and can cook anywhere from four to six tons of food at once. It has 24 smoking compartments, a walk-in cooler, and four beer taps.
What flower is a cultural symbol of Nepal and is also an important symbol during Day of the Dead festivities?
Marigold. They are often used for floral arches, garlands, wreaths, gravesites, and home altars. The bright colors and fragrances are said to attract the souls of the dead.
What is the national summer sport of Canada?
Lacrosse. Lacrosse was declared the national game of Canada in 1859. However, the 1994 Canada’s National Sports Act kept lacrosse the national summer game but made hockey its national winter game.
What is the name of the island that Pearl Harbor is on?
Oahu. An estimated 87,000 military personnel were on the island when it was attacked on December 7, 1941. Each year on the anniversary, survivors, veterans, and visitors travel to Pearl Harbor to participate in remembrance events.
What insect, sometimes feared by humans for its stinger, flies around collecting nectar and pollen?
Bee. There are about 20,000 bee species with many differences between them. Some don’t even sting or produce honey.
In the U.S., what has been celebrated on the first Friday in June since 1938?
National Doughnut Day. This date honors the women of the Salvation Army who served doughnuts to the soldiers during WWI. The doughnuts were cooked in metal helmets using oil.
What food is listed as the most popular food for grilling?
Burgers. Hamburgers were not a popular food in the United States until around 1904, when they were sold at the St. Louis World Fair. Steak comes in second place, hot dogs in third, and chicken in fourth.
What flower’s botanical name is Bellis perennis and has been used in the homeopathic system of medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties? Hint: It is April’s birth flower.
The daisy. A daisy is two flowers in one. The outer white petals are one, and the yellow cluster, called the eye, are another.
What is the name of the game in which players throw weighted balls aimed at a smaller white target ball, hoping to get closer than their opponent?
Bocce. Bocce can be traced to Greece and Italy as far back as 600 BC. The first Bocce Olympiad was held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Fun fact: The term for the white target ball is pallino
A famous vacation destination for many celebrities, what island can be found off the southeastern coast of Massachusetts?
Martha’s Vineyard. There are no actual vineyards on Martha’s Vineyard. In fact, a British sailor named the island after his daughter, Martha, and the vine-like growth along the coast
What spotted insect is believed to bring you good luck and is a symbol of good fortune?
Ladybug. Some think the number of spots on the ladybug indicates how many years of good luck you’ll have. A persistent myth is that the spots show how many years old they are, but in reality they don’t live more than a year or two.
In what movie did Clark Gable teach Claudette Colbert how to properly dunk a doughnut? Hint: The movie came out in 1934
It Happened One Night. He noted, “Don’t let it soak so long. A dip and—plop, into your mouth. If you let it soak so long, it’ll get soft and fall off.”
In 1952, while working at Weber Brothers Metal Works, George Stephen cut a marine buoy in half, creating a dome-shape with a lid better known today as what?
A barbecue. Prior to Stephen’s invention, the most well-known method of barbecuing was using an open charcoal brazier, which left the meat exposed to nature’s elements, such as rain and gusts of wind, and often resulted in an uneven cook.
What carnivorous plant produces white flowers and is known for its innovative trapping mechanism for catching insects?
Venus flytrap. The Venus flytrap’s lifespan is roughly 20 years, sometimes longer.
In the movie A League of Their Own, what summer sport did the women play?
Baseball. In 1942, many of the Major League Baseball talents were fighting in WWII. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was created by Philip K. Wrigley (owner of the Chicago Cubs) in 1943.
What island is famously known as “The Big Island”?
Hawaii. Hawaii is the world’s largest island chain and covers 1,500 miles across the Pacific. Hawaii is also the only state in the U.S. that grows coffee
What insects live in large colonies and can lift 20 times their body weight?
Ants. Ants are found worldwide and can range in size from 0.08 to one inch. They also come in various colors—typically yellow, brown, red, or black.
What expression is used when someone is so confident of an outcome that they are willing to bet money against something less valuable?
“Dollars to Doughnuts.” The expression originated in the mid-1800s.
In the U.S., in what month is National Barbecuing Day? Hint: It’s not a summer month.
May. It is celebrated on May 16. Fun fact: Lyndon Johnson was the first president to host a barbecue party at the White House.
What popular summer flower will often bloom blue if grown in acidic soils or pink if it’s in alkaline soils? Hint: They bloom in a ball shape.
Hydrangea. The flower gets its name from the Greek word hydro, meaning “water,” and angos, meaning “vessel.” Its name is meant to stress the need to be watered often.
What summer competition involves running, biking, and swimming?
Triathlon. In 1970, the first triathlon world championships were held in France, with only 700 athletes competing. Today, in the United States, 250,000 athletes compete in triathlons each year.
What famous island was opened in 1892 as an immigration station between New York and New Jersey?
Ellis Island. Historians have estimated that nearly 40 percent of all current United States citizens can trace at least one relative back to Ellis Island. In 1808, New York state bought the island for $10 million.