Love bugs!!

[3floridarays]

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.

You forgot the one other thing that lovebugs can't resist - the front of our cars!

 

[PinkRhombus]

We have something similar up here in Louisville called "May Flies". They cover everything downtown within several block of the river.

The don't do anything but creep us all out.

 

[angierae]

We have something similar up here in Louisville called "May Flies". They cover everything downtown within several block of the river.

The don't do anything but creep us all out.

Fishflies! I grew up on a lake and now that we've moved away from the water (only about 20-30 miles, but it makes a difference) I actually kinda miss them. I know, that makes me weird.

 

[dancin'girl]

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

I was there in Sept 06 and they were terrible!!! They were just everywhere - very annoying! That said, they didn't bother us so much that we wouldn't travel in Sept again. If they were biting us, well, then, that would be a different story! But since they don't bite, we'll take the bugs over the crowds any day!

 

[dancin'girl]

Oh, I read on another thread today that the bugs have been spotted this year!