Love Bugs (No, not another complaint thread)!

[hismattjesty]

I have read for weeks about the "Love Bugs" that appear seasonally in WDW and various parts of the south, but I have one question that has yet to be answered about them:

Although called "Love Bugs", what are the REAL names of these insects? A common name will do, and a scientific genus/species would be even better. I just want to do some research into these insects. Thank in advance for the information.

 

[KarenAylwood]

The first site that came up when I googled "Love bugs" : http://cricket.biol.sc.edu/luvbug.html

Genus species: Plecia neartica.

They are dipterans and originally from Centra America and have been working their way northward. I guess they've been seen as far north as North Carolina... I'm crossing my fingers they don't get to Virginia anytime in the next few years!!

 

[Pooh67_68]

They are coming North? I would think unless they can adapt to the weather, they won't come to far North.

have been working their way northward. I guess they've been seen as far north as North Carolina

 

[hismattjesty]

Thank you so much for the info. That is exactly what I was looking for!