Love Bugs!!!!???!!! Help!

[gabbygrennell]

Ok, I have read in several posts, mention of "love bugs" in the same sentence with sept...

Call me dumb, but what are love bugs? Are these lady bugs? Do these things fly/pinch/sting/bite???? Is there anthing effective in keeping them away from you? (aside from staying indoors)


I was all excited about our trip... but now, am getting scared... I am petrified of things that fly, sting, bite etc... in fact, many have seen me run from these things on many occasions!

I am afraid my trip is going to be ruined by these "love bugs", due to my deathly fear of any bug.... love or otherwise...
Help.....

We leave 8/28-9/8

Please tell me these things come in heavy around the mid-end of sept....
anxiously awaiting to hear from you....
gabby

 

[califred]

They are bugs that are mating and fly through the Florida air, readily smashing into your car and leaving a mess. In fact when I've lived in Florida Car washes have special love bug removal washes at the end of love bug season.

yes they fly, but no they wont hurt your. They are just an annoyance.

 

[gabbygrennell]

can anyone give me a size comparison for these little things...
i hope they are little anyways...hhah
comparable to a ...
bee?
ladybug?
butterfly?
wasp?
fly?
what?
thanks agian!
gabby

 

[goofyernmost]

I have been in Florida in September and I do remember the "love Bugs" but only in relation to the number that flew into the front of my car. I really don't remember them as being around or "going for" the human element. At least, I don't remember it that way and I usually would recall it if I was having to fight them off all the time. I don't see them as a problem, park wise.

Besides, since Universal put in Spiderman, I think they are all getting caught up in the web over there.

 

[Pugsley]

gabby, I'd say they're about the size of a small bee, but there are almost always two of them stuck together (hence the name). I think they're only out during part of the spring (May?) and the fall (Sep?). I think you'll miss them.

 

[Miscrapper]

We were in WDW mid Sept 2000 and there definitely were love bugs. They are bigger than lady bug but not huge. More like a fly size but skinnier. They do not sting bite or hurt in anyway but they are gross and annoying. We mostly saw them around our resort - even by pools and stuff. Also over the weekend when the parks were busier we didn't notice them much, but on Monday there were fewer people and more bugs - they hung around food court area near ToT at MGM. We are returning first week of October and I hope they are gone by then!

 

[n2mm]

Keep you mouth closed on outside rides...other than that, be careful not to smash them on your clothes. They just hover around doing what you think they are doing. Don't bite or sting, just stain your clothes if you sit on them.

 

[gabbygrennell]

thanks for calming my fears!! I was beginning to get really ancy...
will make sure I try not to sit on any or smash any into my clothes!! lol
thanks again for all your help!
gabby

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by gabbygrennell
Ok, I have read in several posts, mention of "love bugs" in the same sentence with sept...

Call me dumb, but what are love bugs? Are these lady bugs? Do these things fly/pinch/sting/bite???? Is there anthing effective in keeping them away from you? (aside from staying indoors)


I was all excited about our trip... but now, am getting scared... I am petrified of things that fly, sting, bite etc... in fact, many have seen me run from these things on many occasions!

I am afraid my trip is going to be ruined by these "love bugs", due to my deathly fear of any bug.... love or otherwise...
Help.....

We leave 8/28-9/8

Please tell me these things come in heavy around the mid-end of sept....
anxiously awaiting to hear from you....
gabby

Here is a link for more information than you will ever need.

http://www.floridaenvironment.com/programs/fe00508.htm

 

[daannzzz]

I have always hated bugs and had a phobia about them. Over the past few years I have done better with bugs and spiders. I go to WDW most of the time in May and have encountered the Love Bugs many times. They are small, maybe half an inch long and thin and black and as said above there are usually two of them stuck together. They do not do anything to people. They do not chase you as they are to busy. If they are near you they may try to land on you just so they can rest. Even back on my first trip they didn't cause fear in me. It may be different for you but think of them more as a fly or lady bug as apposed to a bee, wasp or biting, stinging insect. Even my sister , who is terrified of bugs in general didn't have trouble with them.

 

[CdnDisneyFan]

I did recall seeing them in April/May when I was there in 97, and they resemble a large beetle to me. They flocked to me when I was lounging by the hotel pool , and had sunscreen on.

Jules

 

[daannzzz]

Here is a picture and report.

http://www.floridaenvironment.com/programs/fe00508.htm

 

[jcemom]

Lived in Florida for a while...and hated these bugs! Kind of reminded me of a firefly (or lightning bug). Prefer them to palmetto bugs, though.