May Trip-LoveBug Season...What the heck was I thinking?????

[Alessandra Gabriel]

Ok so we leave for our week long trip on May 16th, and up to this point I have been sooooo excited, that is... until I started reading about these darn LoveBugs. I have read previously a little bit about them, but never really paid too much attention to it. In my mind I pictured ladybugs and never really gave it too much thought. Well today, I finally decided for some reason to google LoveBugs, and holy crap now Im completely freaking out!
First of all, yes I know I should have done some more reasearch before booking a May trip. Of the numerous times I have been to WDW, I have never been in May and yes I should have done my homework...but alas I did not... obviously.
What has me so worried are two things, first of all apparently there are swarms of these things in May. How the heck are you supposed to enjoy an outdoor park with swarms of bugs? Now maybe when I go there wont be any swarms, maybe there will be just a few bugs flying around (which would be fine) but Im trying to prepare for the worst and I just dont know how this will be enjoyable with swarms of bugs flying around. Second, we are driving down, in our new car, and Ive read that Lovebugs can destroy the paint on your car...has anyone tried anything that worked protecting your car from these bugs?
Has anyone just gotten back from WDW that can report on the LoveBug situation?

 

[momof2n2]

I've been there twice in May and saw very, very few love bugs. Hopefully you will have the same observance!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Just at DHS on Sunday and I didn't see much of any. But we had a bunch up to then at home.

I think by May 16th, you might be okay. They last about 2-4 weeks and near where I live, we are in week 2 or 3.

 

[Stasieki]

I lived in FL for about 8 years. The only time love bugs would ruin your car is if you kept them on for a long time. I would plan on going through a gas station car wash on your way back and you would be fine. I never felt like I was swarmed by then either.

 

[Missy29]

I have been twice in May and have never been bothered by them, and I hate bugs. I think a seen a couple of them but never swarms. I can't comment on the car issue as we fly, we do rent a car but I have never checked the front.

 

[Alessandra Gabriel]

Thanks guys! I feel better ...I am a complete wuss when it comes to insects, bugs, spiders etc...and I have been in complete panic mode after reading about these darn bugs. You have all calmed me down!!! Im keeping my fingers crossed that in the next two weeks these things will have moved out.

 

[tchrrx]

You're definitely going to want to avoid It's Tough to be a Bug.

 

[Alessandra Gabriel]

You're definitely going to want to avoid It's Tough to be a Bug.

Definitely!!!

 

[avic77]

I live in the south and sometimes they are heavy and sometimes we barely get any. Either way the are a minor annoyance. The Selfie Sticks will be more annoying I would think!
Before you leave home get your car washed and waxed. The wax will help protect your car and when you head back run through the drive trough car wash thing to removed the bug residue.

 

[Astylla]

As a longtime Florida resident ( 22 years ) , I totally forgot about them now but honestly I hate bugs and they are harmless. They are annoying for sure but nothing horrible. They are the worst around coastal areas Vero Beach/Satellite Beach come to mind personally. They can swarm at times but it's not as common as people make it out to be. Like anything it's best to be knowledgeable but not over prepare to the point of exaggeration.

 

[michigal23]

We were just there last week, and have gone first week of may on our previous trips, and despite a few love bugs flying around (and maybe having to brush two or four off of us throughout the day) it wasn't a problem.

 

[disnut8]

There aren't "swarms" of bugs. Will there be lovebugs? Probably. Will there always be two of them flying around or on some surface? Yes. Because they are lovebugs and they, well, er, like each other, a lot. Will some people freak out and try to kill the lovebugs? More than likely. Will the lovebugs harm anyone at all? Nope.

Since you are driving, I would recommend you take some water and paper towels with you and when you stop for rests or fuel, just wipe down the outside of the car either with the towels or just with the windshield stuff the gas stations provide.

 

[hultrain]

Wait, what the heck? Didn't even know what a lovebug was till I read this thread. I get that they arent' dangerous, but my DD (5) is COMPLETELY freaked out about insects these days. Yesterday we had a house fly inside the ....errr.... house, and she screamed so loud I could hear her from outside. We're going May 23-30, please tell me the season will have ended by then....

 

[Alessandra Gabriel]

Wait, what the heck? Didn't even know what a lovebug was till I read this thread. I get that they arent' dangerous, but my DD (5) is COMPLETELY freaked out about insects these days. Yesterday we had a house fly inside the ....errr.... house, and she screamed so loud I could hear her from outside. We're going May 23-30, please tell me the season will have ended by then....

I completely know what you mean, my DD (5) is freaked out as well, probably from seeing me, her mother, freak out like a psycho at the first sight of a bug or anything that resembles a bug. I never should have googled these darn things bc I have been worried non stop about this all day. From what I have read, these lovebugs can be quite annoying and at times there are swarms of them. Now Im trying to keep in mind, that we may never experience a swarm, or never see any at all, but the reality of the situation is, that May is Lovebug season, they are there and that freaks me out!!!

 

[JaxDad]

I agree with the other Florida posters who say the love bugs are really not a major annoyance when you are out and about walking (or maybe we are just used to them). However, depending on when and where you drive they can literally cover the front of your car! The worst places I have seen are through the north-central corridor (I-75, US301) during the late morning/early afternoon hours. They are not active at night. Apply wax before you leave, including the grill and bumper, and rinse the bugs off as often as possible, as others have noted. (You should also wax before you leave to head home.) You can also buy bug and tar remover cleaner (I think Turtle Wax makes some.). I've heard people say to use baby oil or non-stick spray in addition to waxing to make the bugs easier to remove, but I don't know if they actually work.

 

[Alessandra Gabriel]

I agree with the other Florida posters who say the love bugs are really not a major annoyance when you are out and about walking (or maybe we are just used to them). However, depending on when and where you drive they can literally cover the front of your car! The worst places I have seen are through the north-central corridor (I-75, US301) during the late morning/early afternoon hours. They are not active at night. Apply wax before you leave, including the grill and bumper, and rinse the bugs off as often as possible, as others have noted. (You should also wax before you leave to head home.) You can also buy bug and tar remover cleaner (I think Turtle Wax makes some.). I've heard people say to use baby oil or non-stick spray in addition to waxing to make the bugs easier to remove, but I don't know if they actually work.

Thanks for the tips! I will definitely be applying wax before the trip and on our way home. We will be traveling on i-95 south until we reach Jacksonville, then we will be taking a slight detour to visit my Aunt and Uncle who live in Altoona for the night. Im not sure the way the GPS will take us but I know Altoona is about 45 mins north of Orlando. Im pretty sure we will hit some of these bugs on our way down. I saw online where a company sells Love Bug Solution-its a spray that dries a protective film onto the car and washes off with water. Have you ever heard of it?

 

[cranbiz]

They are really not all that bad. As others have said, new wax and wash them off ASAP and you are fine. I rode a motorcycle between WDW and my home in Deltona and the worst place for them was the swampy area on I4 near Lake Monroe in Sanford.

 

[JaxDad]

I had not heard of Love Bug Solution, but I just took a look at their website. It looks like a potentially good idea. Like wax (or supposedly baby oil or non-stick spray) it apparently provides a protective layer that rinses off easily. I didnt see any reviews with a quick search, but you might try looking at RV websites to see if anyone has reviewed it there.

I have seen a few love bugs here in Jacksonville the past week or so. It is quite likely they will be mostly gone by mid-May. You can ask your Aunt and Uncle how bad they are in Altoona.

 

[Alessandra Gabriel]

I had not heard of Love Bug Solution, but I just took a look at their website. It looks lie a potentially good idea. Like wax (or supposedly baby oil or non-stick spray) it apparently provides a protective layer that rinses off easily. I didnt see any reviews with a quick search, but you might try looking at RV websites to see if anyone has reviewed it there.

I have seen a few love bugs here in Jacksonville the past week or so. It is quite likely they will be mostly gone by mid-May. You can ask your Aunt and Uncle how bad they are in Altoona.

I was trying to search for reviews as well and couldnt find any, but I will definitely look at the RV websites and see if I can find any there. Thank you!!
Yes I am going to call my Aunt and Uncle tonight for sure. I also have another Aunt and Uncle who live in Coral Springs, so I will be asking them as well, and I have a cousin who lives in Jacksonville so Im just gonna poll half of my family! hahaha
Thanks for your advice!!

 

[JaxDad]

Coral Springs is WAY south (I used to live there), so that information may not be useful for your trip to Orlando.