Table 2 Animal climatic predictors operation
From: Traditional climate knowledge: a case study in a peasant community of Tlaxcala, Mexico
Local (Species) Name | Month Observation | Description |
|---|---|---|
Tuza (Geomys mexicanus B.) | March | In the planting season when they have already fallen the first rains, if this rodent goes (makes cavities around the maize) in the morning, it means that for that day or the next heavy rains fall. On the contrary if it goes in the evenings, it is an indication that the rain will stop in the following days. |
Tecolote (Strigidae sp.) | March-April | When this bird sings or "squealing" in the evenings is a bad omen, either in farming or in death or an accident. |
Rooster (Gallusgallus domesticus L.) | April-August | During the rainy season, when the cock crows after hours (afternoon or evening) it is indicator that you will stop for a while. |
Black ant (Formicidae sp.) | March | When black ants begin to line up across the width of a sidewalk or road, it is a sign of coming rain. |
Red ant (Formicidae sp.) | March-April | When this insect begins to build mounds in his career, it means that soon fall favorable rains for agriculture. |
Coyote (Canis latrans Say.) | April-May | The coyote is an animal that can rarely be seen, but through his howl Peasants can predict good or bad weather. When his howl is melodic, it indicates next rains, whereas if the howling is obnoxious or clipped, it will not rain soon or be dry during the growth of the maize. |
Maguey butterfly (Acentrocneme hesperiaris Walker.) | March-May | When the landscape abound in this kind of small butterflies (brown or red), Peasants interpret the rains will be good quality, that is, on time and in adequate quantity. |
Mosquitos (Culicidae spp.) | May | When "rampage" and leave in large groups, it is a sign that heavy rains are coming. |
Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus L.) Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris L.) | April-May | Cheerful and impetuous behavior of these animals it is a sign of good weather (heavy rain or hail frost). A passive and sad behavior indicates cessation of rains and possible occurrence of frost or drought. |
Mare (Equus ferus caballus L.) | July-August | When horse trembles in the evenings is a sign that a frost is near to fall on the fields. |
Swallow (Hirundo rustica L.) | April-May | If this bird flies at low altitudes near the planting season, it means that it will rain in the coming days and that the quality of rainfall will be favorable for crops. |
Wren (Troglodytes aedon V.) | May-July | If you are singing on the trees in the morning, it is an indicator of air streams. |
Cuitlacoche (Taxostoma curvirostre S.) | May-July | If your song is by the morning is omen to air or frost. |
Lili (Bird) | When he sings in the evenings, it's a sign that fall frost in the next day or the same day of the signal. | |
Pashira (Bird) | If this bird sings insistently by the evening it is an omen of "bad weather", moreover if sings early is a sign of "good time". | |
Chupepe (Bird) | It is a sign of rain when this insect (like the Beetle) is out of the nest, the roadside or in the maize field. |