Love bugs or not

[Llmk100]

Anyone in the Webster fl area, sumpter county? Wondering how tough a year this is with those miserable love bugs. Thinking Northern GA instead if those critters are bad. Some years their nothing.

[jmckelvy]

I hope those suckers aren't spreading. We encountered some week before last in the Gulf Shores area. Never seen them there before.

We encountered Love Bugs once many years ago in central Florida. Could not believe how many bugs I had on the front.

[caysea7254]

we just got back from Top Sail Hill Resort in Santa Rosa Beach Fla and they were bad!!!! Having a very hard time getting them off of the front of our truck and our trailer! But bugs was worth it cause we really enjoyed ourselves at that state park.

[joe_b_]

The LBs seem to be mostly gone from this region of south Florida at this time of year. Even if they hatch on a 3 year cycle, there is a new cycle starting each year, with some years heavier than others, probably due to the weather. The only bad spot I found this summer, was on the FL Turnpike, up by Yee haw Junction for about a ten mile stretch. A few years back, one of the forum members suggested a cleaning product called Spray Nine, available around here at Ace Hardware and at Home Depot. Wet the bugs down with water, spray it with the cleaner and let it set for two or three minutes, then go over it with a boat deck brush. May have to do it a time or two to get all the bugs off. I have tried the dryer sheets, both new and used with zero success. New ones just leave a slimy goo on top of the bugs and dry one are not effective for me. I tend to think that the Love Bugs are the original inventors of Super Glue. LOL Getting them off quickly is the secret to any of the methods used. Let them dry on for a day or two and they will destroy the paint under them.

Their breeding times seem to coincide, with the times we are leaving Florida for the summer or returning in the fall time. At least though, they don't bite, as was mentioned above. The bugs seem to prefer the heat of the day, so at times coming though a love bug area, early in the morning or later in the evening will help avoid the swarms of them.

I have posted this in the past but for those that have never got to experience love bugs: This was about a 45 minute accumulation of the critters.

[Band47]

Easy solution to clean love bugs from your vehicle. Wet the area on your car and then use a dryer sheet to clean the love bug mess off. Afterwards wash the car with your regular car wash to remove any film left from the dryer sheet. Been using this trick for years. When it's love bug season I clean my cars, Motorhome and motorcycle using the dryer sheets.

[JoeH]

I'm around Tampa and we have not had many this year... yet

[majorgator]

They are currently very bad in my area...

[rockhillmanor]

Last year they were horrible central Florida. This year the first go around I only saw a couple. The second go around is right now and still only just a few.

Don't know why just real glad there are hardly any this year.

I will take love bugs over blind mosquitoes any day! Last year I stayed right on the water and boy was THAT an nasty experience with those bugs!!:B

[Llmk100]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I hate those damn bugs and the mess they make. For what it's worth however, I tried a polymer product called Re-Jex and after applied (like wax) hit the bugs with a hose and gone! Windshield, lights, paint, no rubber. Seems they use this on aircraft to allow easy clean up of exhaust blast carbon and on the leading edge of the wings too to keep bug and dirt minimized. Lasts 6 months. Amazon has it and sometimes you may find it in Ace Hardware. Hope this info helps somebody.

[Dog_Folks]

agesilaus wrote:
They operate on a three year cycle. They live in the decaying grass next to the roads as larva for most of that time then change into the flying love bug stage for a few weeks before vanishing for another three years.

They have two breeding cycles per year: once during April–May and the next in August–September. Not once per three years.

They congregate near roads because the exhaust from vehicles is similar to the smell of decaying vegetation in which they seek to lay eggs. They do not choose the edge of roads. They will lay eggs wherever they find decaying vegetation.

The heat of decay is needed to incubate the eggs. The hatching larvae also live there.

Some good information here: University Of Florida

[agesilaus]

They operate on a three year cycle. They live in the decaying grass next to the roads as larva for most of that time then change into the flying love bug stage for a few weeks before vanishing for another three years.

[lap527]

Not as bad as In past years...in 2 weeks what we have will be gone. IMHO I wouldn't worry about them, if they seem bad just just use lots of water to soak and then use soapy water. The problem is when folks let them stay on for days and bake on the paint. Fresh ones are a lot easier to remove.

[Big_Katuna]

They are really bad around here this year.

[cyntdon2010]

Those Poor Love Bugs, What a Life....LOL