Love bugs!!

[sportiegrl1213]

Has anyone been down to Disney in May/Septmeber when the GROSS Love Bugs are out?? September is bad with the infestation, but what about May? A few years back when we went in Sept. we asked a cast member about the Love Bugs and he said that Disney created them and it was an experiment that went wrong. The two months they are around are may and Sept. Does anyone know if it's bad in May?? Not looking forward to that if so. They ruin your clothes and they are just plain annoying and yucky!!

 

[braylan]

I hope not!! That's when we will be down.

 

[BLTLDZ]

You know, I was always petrified of these...UNTIL our september trip.
They really are not as pesky as described, at least not in my opinion. You simply brush them off. They are kind of cute.

 

[sportiegrl1213]

I honestley thought they were annoying, they were every where. Waiting for the buses, laying by the pool...maybe it's just me.

 

[BLTLDZ]

I honestley thought they were annoying, they were every where. Waiting for the buses, laying by the pool...maybe it's just me.

Well, we were there the very last week of spetember, so maybe they were not so bad

 

[Pakey]

We've done 3 May vacations there and have had Love Bugs once, in 08. They only bothered me at the pool when I was trying to snooze in a lounge chair.

 

[NotUrsula]

Has anyone been down to Disney in May/September when the GROSS Love Bugs are out?? September is bad with the infestation, but what about May? A few years back when we went in Sept. we asked a cast member about the Love Bugs and he said that Disney created them and it was an experiment that went wrong. The two months they are around are may and Sept. Does anyone know if it's bad in May?? Not looking forward to that if so. They ruin your clothes and they are just plain annoying and yucky!!

The cast member got the urban legend wrong, LOL. It was actually the University of Florida that was supposed to have invented them, but they didn't. They're not Frankenbugs, just an ordinary species of fly. They are native to Central America, and experts think that they stowed away in some cargo on a boat and ended up the US in the 1920's.

They have mating flights twice a year, in May and in early September. Some years are bad, others not so much. This year is not likely to be bad, because Florida had such a cold winter that a lot of the larvae were probably killed off.

Tip if you do encounter a flight: besides each other, lovebugs have two great obsessions: vehicle exhaust and the color white. Avoid both of those things as much as you can and they won't be as much of a bother.

 

[MichaelH]

We have been in May several times and have not been bothered by the bugs. I never really noticed them like I have in September.

 

[Disney71]

We have been the last 3 Septembers, and only have one memorable moment that involved love bugs.... We were at a quiet pool at CBR, and when we got out of the pool our white towels were covered with love bugs, lol. No biggie though - just shook off the towels and away they went. They don't bite, and in my opinion they are not as bad as people make them out to be.

 

[kbheap]

Wow! I can't say that I have ever been bothered by love bugs at DW. Maybe I have never paid attention before. We have awful lovebugs here so maybe seeing them in DW never fazed me before.

 

[DisGirl23]

We have been the last 3 Septembers, and only have one memorable moment that involved love bugs.... We were at a quiet pool at CBR, and when we got out of the pool our white towels were covered with love bugs, lol. No biggie though - just shook off the towels and away they went. They don't bite, and in my opinion they are not as bad as people make them out to be.

I really never had much of a problem with them either. I've been down there in both May and September many times. Honestly, I'm more annoyed by gnats then love bugs.

 

[saintstickets]

Being from Mississippi and having the "joy" of experiencing love bugs twice a year, I do have one piece of advice for those driving to WDW during these semi-annual rituals...wash your vehicle!!! These little plecia nearctica have an acidic body chemistry. When they are flying around searching for their soulmates and you seek to make them a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, the inescapable SPLAT will not only obscure your view but, if left unattended, will eat away your paint and chrome on your "cause of death" vehicle. Modern day vehicle paint and protective coating appications have reduced the threat of pits and chips. However, if sufficient sacrifices are made, they can stop the air flow on your radiator. A quick stop upon arrival to WDW and upon returning home at a self-serve car wash will do wonders.

These bugs-de-amour typically appear in late April/early May and late August/early September for about 4 weeks. Do not fear them; they will not bite...at least not humans. I cannot vouch for what they do to each other. With global warming causing an unusual amount of snow and days below freezing in the South this winter, not only have your orange juice prices increased, it will probably reduce the number of "honeymoon flies" this year. Not to worry though, a reduction means only millions instead of billions of the "kissybugs".

The rumor that the "double-headed bug" is the result of an experiment gone wrong in a lab at the University of Florida and are man made is patently false. UF is famous for Gatorade and good football teams but not this. It would be counter productive to create a nuisance that might chase away all the snow-bird vacationers and their tourism dollars.

Enjoy your stay in south Florida and if you are travelling through my home state of Mississippi, stop by for some catfish, hushpuppies and iced tea. We'll have plenty. Y'all come back now, ya heah?!

 

[trekker93]

We've been down the last 10 year sin the fall (Sept./Oct.) time frame and I can't say they were a problem at all. They fly around, settle on light colored objects sometimes but they do not bite and are not a real headache - like mosquitos!!!!

 

[purvislets]

I live in Florida and I've heard that they aren't going to be that bad this year. Maybe it's just because I'm used to them, but they don't really bother me. They don't sting or bite and honestly only get annoying when they stick to your car.

Avoid wearing white, swipe them off your seat before you sit, and don't let them ruin your day!

I really never had much of a problem with them either. I've been down there in both May and September many times. Honestly, I'm more annoyed by gnats then love bugs.

Gnats are the worst!! UGGH!!! Nothing more annoying. Except for maybe mosquitos. Yuck!

 

[Totoro]

We have been down in WDW for the past two years in September and I really did not know what you meant by a "Love Bug." I had to go look it up on the internet. I saw other lizards and bugs that gave me the creeps but never any love bug issues.

 

[daisyduck123]

We have done several May trips to WDW.

We only ever saw Love Bugs in two places: by the pool & ALL OVER our van.

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

I was there 3 years ago in May and it the Love Bugs were AWFUL....especially by the pool (Beach Club)

 

[sportiegrl1213]

Yeah I guess it's just me complaining. I'm Italian, it's in my blood. LOL. This was 4 years ago in Sept 06 - so maybe they died down since. They were just bad while waiting for the buses and trying to lay by the pool. But I'm going in May this year so maybe they won't be bad. All in all I do find them kind of cute - imagine be attached to the butt of your husband/wife like that. LOL

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

2 visits in May - never had any problems with love bugs yet !!

 

[Coffee Princess]

We have visited Disney several times in May and yes... the "Love Bugs" are out and about. Some trips have been buggier than others. But honestly, the worst part is that they are flying around "stuck together"... and the kids wanna know why! They are harmless. Don't let them make you pass up a "May" vacation. Disney is SO beautiful in May. Give the bugs a chance... they are just lookin for love. Enjoy!