Love Bugs and Cars

[Mortlives]

For some odd reason, this is my third attempt to post this question. We are driving to to Florida in 2 weeks. Does anyone know if the lovebugs will be out? Will we need to get some sort of netting to protect our engine?

Thanks in Advance,
Morticia.

 

[Nebsky]

I wouldnt think that you would need a net.

We drove down in Mar04 and they were everywhere.
We just made sure to go through the car wash with the high pressure sprayers to get them off.

 

[NotUrsula]

You will probably be a bit early on LB's, they usually swarm a week or so later, though you will undoubtedly see some early ones, they should not be really thick.

Unless you are doing serious daytime highway driving when they are at their worst, a radiator screen should not be necessary. Putting several coats of wax on your car right before the trip will be the best defense against paint damage (many people apply heavy paste wax and leave it unbuffed), also put bug-removal washer fluid in your tank, as that will make it easier to keep your windows clean. Some types of wax are better than others at making it easier to rinse off bug remains; shop around.

If you don't wax your car well and you encounter a lot of them, it will probably take serious scrubbing to remove them; they get sticky in the heat.

 

[Mortlives]

Thanks! Can't wait to get down there. I was just worried because the last time I was in Florida during love bug season, love bug swarms ruined my beer, and I didn't want that happening to my car as well.