Jukbig Mashath, Hiachu Mu:val 2025

Huhugham Heritage Center

Submission

he name for this month translates to ‘the rainy month’ and refers to the arrival of the summer Monsoon rains.  During this time of year, we experience an increase in moisture both in the form of high humidity and periodic rainfall brought north by the summer rains. This increase in moisture is beneficial to plants and animals.  The “haichu mu:val ” or insects also benefit from this added increase in moisture. In this article, we will introduce six insects that you might be able to observe until the landscape dries out in the fall. 

Some insects are considered pests, as they are troublesome to pets and O’otham. Insects that are easily heard are the kok’thpol (cicadas), we can hear them buzzing amongst the mesquite trees throughout the community.  In former times, O’otham captured the kok’thpol and roasted them over an open fire and ate them as a snack. Today, cicadas are a source of food for different cultures around the world. One insect that is a troublesome pest to our go’gogs (dogs) are ma:msh (ticks) that imbed themselves under the fur of our shoiga (pet).  We often purchase collars, powders and soaps to fend off these troublesome insects.  Vi:psh (mud wasps) like to build their mud nests under the eaves of our roofs and abandoned buildings, its best to leave them alone, as they will defend their nests. 

One insect that defends itself with a chemical spray is the bithokoi (stinkbug). It is best not to let young children and pets bother these insects, as they can spray an oily, stinky secretion several inches away.  The agitated bithokoi will stand on its head and point its rear end toward the offender before releasing its chemicals.  There are several different species of sho:’o (grasshoppers) that we encounter in our yards and when we are out walking our pets.  It is hard not to miss them, as they fly up ahead of us with wings making a clicking rasp and land several feet away.  This is also the time of year when we observe male hiañ (tarantula) leaving their underground burrows to look for females to mate with and reproduce the species.  Hiañ can be observed crossing roadways and open ground, they are experts at climbing walls. 

This month’s word match will focus on these six insects.  We encourage you to learn their names and use them in your everyday lives.  Speak with an Elder or Speaker and learn to say the names. Insect names may be slightly different between the villages.  We encourage you to use caution around certain insects, as they can bite, sting or spray chemicals.

A special Thank You to our Community Elders whose knowledge about haichu mu:val that made this article possible. Additional source related from O’odham – Mil-gahn Dictionary, Dean & Lucille Saxton, University of Arizona Press, 1969.