Love Bugs...everywhere!

[QJ411]

Love bugs...cute name, but I'm not too cool w/ them doing their "love fest" on me or landing on me after their "love fest"

Well, at least they don't bite!



Thanks for the heads up tho.

 

[QueenOfCelts]

Originally posted by Spartan
Someone mentioned that they come back in the fall - about what time of the year is that? I know we ran into them one trip, but I can't remember if it was one of our Sept. trips or our May trip.

Late summer/early autumn. I posted two links on page one that give all sorts of info about lovebugs. Honestly they aren't bad at all - but I may be saying that cos I live here.

Everyone can just run their car/van thru a car wash and be fine. We do not wash our cars everyday. In fact, I don't have any lovebugs on my car and I haven't washed it in a week. Lovebugs are mostly present on highways/interstates which is why you will have them all over the front of your car after a long drive. They also do not "swarm". Personally I think they land on people to take a break from what they are doing, LOL!

 

[phamton]

from the Univ. of Florida site:

The body fluids are slightly acid; however, if the egg mass (average about 350 per female) and body parts are allowed to remain on the car for several days, bacterial action increases the acidity and etches the paint. A soaking with water for about five minutes followed by a scrubbing within 15 to 20 minutes should remove most of the lovebugs without harm to automobile paint.

There are several things that can be done to lessen the problem facing motorists. By traveling at night motorists can avoid the insects; lovebugs reach peak activity at 10:00 am and stop flying at dusk.

Lovebugs are more easily removed, and the chance of damaging the car's finish is lessened if the car has been waxed recently. When the remains are left on an unwaxed car for several days, the finish will often be permanently damaged. Soaking for several minutes with water aids in their removal. When lovebugs are numerous, some motorists spread a light film of baby oil over the front of the hood, above the windshield and on the grill and bumper. This practice will make their removal a simpler task.