Love Bugs?

[familyatdisney]

They are around but not that bad yet.

 

[zackiedawg]

Boy I would love to hear that this is a very mellow season, and even better, that they fade away by June 3 when I'm driving up to Disney! Otherwise I have to fill my villa trash can with water and dishwashing soap and walk down to the parking lot with a hand towel and wash the front of my car off before it sets in. *big hint to any full-service car wash owners*...Disney needs one BAD! The closest hand-assist full service wash I can find up there is out on 192 halfway to the Turnpike.

 

[Winue]

they are there. we saw a few, but not the swarms yet.

 

[Feralpeg]

They are definitely in Orlando now. They are not bad at this point. I live right behind the MK and they were pretty thick when I mowed my lawn. That always tends to stir them up. They haven't reached their peak yet.

 

[DisneyDayTripper]

Yep...they've arrived, but like everyone else has said not full swing yet. We were on our way to Blizzard Beach yesterday and a box truck was behind us and I noticed the front of his truck was COVERED in them. I haven't noticed it too bad on our car, but since we moved down this past August we were warned to get them off there as soon as you can because they'll eat your paint or something.

They look like lightening bugs/fire flies....just with 2 heads since they're doing their thing lol

 

[cwf1028]

We went in May two years ago at the 'end' of the swarm and they were not too bad. Sounds like the 'swarm' is a little later this year than that year so I am getting a little worried about my car.

My question is: What about driving a night? Is my car going to get it worse since we are driving at night or are the love bugs more of a daytime bug?

 

[Trish5768]

Wondering when they will peak? Anyone have an estimate?

 

[RabFlmom]

Haven't seen very many this year here on the coast. We were in Orlando last week-drove home before dark and didn't even have to wash them off the car, yet. Maybe the drought is keeping the number down?

 

[webprinter]

We started getting them this weekend in MS. They aren't bad yet.

 

[kat3668]

Just back yesterday.......they were not too bad at the beginning of my trip but are steadily getting heavier as the month progresses. Saw many more Friday and Saturday.

 

[cannonballer]

I hope not to offend, I am not being arcastic I just dont know too much about this bug.

If they dont bite, if they dont harm you then why is everyone panicay adn or worried about them?

I live in teh mountains and I am used to bugs. Heck I kill centipedes, spiders or scorpions on a daily basis.

Is this somthing we should worry about in early june?

Why should we worry adn how can we deal with whatever it is they would make us worry?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I hope not to offend, I am not being arcastic I just dont know too much about this bug.

If they dont bite, if they dont harm you then why is everyone panicay adn or worried about them?

I live in teh mountains and I am used to bugs. Heck I kill centipedes, spiders or scorpions on a daily basis.

Is this somthing we should worry about in early june?

Why should we worry adn how can we deal with whatever it is they would make us worry?

I've not been during love bug season, so I might be telling you wrong, but my impression is that they swarm and are EVERYWHERE at their peak times. You have to walk through clouds of them to get anywhere, they land in your drinks at the pool, and they cover your car and can damage the paint. My DD6 runs screaming from any kind of bug (despite our best efforts to educate her), so it will be interesting if they are out in force when we get there in a few days.

 

[PAcpl]

They dont bite, they are too friendly for that . But they can be very annoying when they are EVERYWHERE!

We were in Disney the first week of June last year and we didn't see many lovebugs at all. Our September trip before that, well thats another story

 

[cannonballer]

from that pic all I can say is GROSS!

I can see where that would be just annoying. BUT hopefully early june will be ok.

We plan on snaking on sandwiches on benches adn how gross if those things swarm our food.

 

[AARCLUKSCH]

Subscrib

 

[zackiedawg]

It's mostly just that annoyance factor. They float around aimlessly, which means they almost always land on you or your stuff when there are big swarms. And you have to be careful brushing them off, because they are very soft and delicate, so a simple swipe can smear them on you. Totally harmless...just annoying. You find them in your hair when you go in a building. You have them crawling on your back and don't know it. They pop out of pockets and bags when you're back at the room. You step out on a balcony and inhale them accidentally.

But the biggest issue is for drivers. They smash into your car in massive blankets - hundreds or thousands of them. They smell horrible. They stain badly. If left to sit for any amount of time in direct sun, they pit the clear coat off the paint, and permanently stain. They go through the grill and into your radiator, and smell up your garage weeks after you thought you cleaned your car. You can even smell them through the A/C system when there are great numbers of them crushed up against the outside vents. The wipers cannot handle them - so you get great smeary streaks to see through, and have to wipe your windows at every gas stop - and your headlights, or they'll barely work at night.

BTW - anyone watch the Players Championship golf tournament from Jacksonville this weekend? Yep - dozens of them floating around the course, floating through every wide shot. In fact, if Tiger Woods was smart, he'd blame his bad Sunday play on the love bugs.

 

[JuneChickie]

It's mostly just that annoyance factor. They float around aimlessly, which means they almost always land on you or your stuff when there are big swarms. And you have to be careful brushing them off, because they are very soft and delicate, so a simple swipe can smear them on you. Totally harmless...just annoying. You find them in your hair when you go in a building. You have them crawling on your back and don't know it. They pop out of pockets and bags when you're back at the room. You step out on a balcony and inhale them accidentally.

But the biggest issue is for drivers. They smash into your car in massive blankets - hundreds or thousands of them. They smell horrible. They stain badly. If left to sit for any amount of time in direct sun, they pit the clear coat off the paint, and permanently stain. They go through the grill and into your radiator, and smell up your garage weeks after you thought you cleaned your car. You can even smell them through the A/C system when there are great numbers of them crushed up against the outside vents. The wipers cannot handle them - so you get great smeary streaks to see through, and have to wipe your windows at every gas stop - and your headlights, or they'll barely work at night.

BTW - anyone watch the Players Championship golf tournament from Jacksonville this weekend? Yep - dozens of them floating around the course, floating through every wide shot. In fact, if Tiger Woods was smart, he'd blame his bad Sunday play on the love bugs.

thats so true , Today I found a pair in my iced tea that was sitting on the counter in my house. , I couldn't figure out how they
even got into the kitchen , ugh
So far though they arent to bad outside , but there is definately an
increase of bugs on our windshield this last week.

 

[JuneChickie]

They dont bite, they are too friendly for that . But they can be very annoying when they are EVERYWHERE!

We were in Disney the first week of June last year and we didn't see many lovebugs at all. Our September trip before that, well thats another story

thats just gross ,, I sure hope they don't get like that this year

 

[jc040404]

I went the first week in May last year. They were out and about "doing their thing" but they didn't land on me or anything. They would fly right on by attached to each other.
I was REALLY scared about love bugs from what I had heard on this board. I have a serious fear of bugs, and it got me all worked up. I thought there was quite a bit of "hype."

I have to agree with this. I've lived in St Pete for about nine years now, and can't say I've ever really witnessed what they're made out to be on here. I think I've seen four on my patio so far this year. I've never had one crawl in my hair, or go swimming in my drinks outdoors. They're annoying, but not worthy of all the hate they get on DISboards!

I feel like the lovebug defender tonight. It's the mosquitos and no-see-ums that I'm afraid of!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Love bugs, love bugs. Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

Love bugs never bother me much. I can see people who have to deal with them all the time getting sick of it (much as we get sick of midges here), but for 10 days...no biggie.