Love Bugs?

[Luv2trav]

What are they? We are going Sept 3rd-12 will we be effected by them? I two very young children will they be effected?

 

[cleo]

They're minor annoyances, but shouldn't have too much of an effect on your vacation. Just give 'em a swat and forget about them. As their name implies, they're far more interested in each other than they are in you. They're not dangerous, just annoying.

Your children might ask how a bug has two head, though.

 

[PandyPaws]

just as an FYI, they are attracted to the heat coming from vehicle motors...take my advice and board any parking lot tram that you may take as farrrr from the front as you can!! Sometimes those front seats are covered with them

 

[trola2]

We saw a few out this past weekend...not many, but still a few.

 

[lasmickey]

Is there a specific time of year when they are better/worse than other times?

 

[Mr.BsMom]

I don't know about other times of the year, but we've been there the last week of August the past 2 years and they are everywhere!! They were very annoying, and DH swears he was bitten by some...

 

[PandyPaws]

Lovebugs take flight in April and May, and again in August and Sept
more information

 

[sarahsmom73]

I have never heard of them until just now! I learn something new every day from these boards!

 

[MrsJ Henry]

OOOo Another good reason that I'm glad we are going in November. I have gone to Disney 8 times in my life and have never seen any of these that I'm aware of but I think it is because we never go at those times of year.

 

[gctong]

I just posted on another thread that I had never heard of lovebugs before until the disboards (which thank god I had just discovered recently trying to plan our long awaited trip). We're going 9/17 - 9/25 and renting a car. Should I be concerned that they'd put a damper on our trip? Should I be sure not to choose any particular color of a rental car (I saw on some post that they cause problems to the car). I'd appreciate any insight. THANK YOU!

 

[wdw_writers]

Well, when i was there in august, i had a VERY unpleasant experience with love bugs ('lovingly' named "two headed mutants" by the family lol)
we were walking near splash mountain, on line to get some McD's fries, and there were swarms of lovebugs. I kept trying to swat them away but i swatted one right down my shirt (and in another 'layer' if you guys know what i mean ). Ugh, i was trying to get it out, but unfortunately only one "head" (now I know it was one bug) came falling out. You know i still never found that other half...
Fortunately, we're not going back in august again. Ive heard the rest of the year isnt really bothered by love bugs.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just FYI, love bugs don't bite humans; they just are not capable of it. However, since they tend to be thick around the same times of day that mosquitos are, it isn't unusual to get bitten by one of them and attribute the bite to a love bug. They do tickle; when I was a kid we thought it great fun to catch them and let them crawl on our hands.

Don't worry about them doing damage to a rental car; the damage they do is caused by an enzyme in their bodies pitting the paint. Rental vehicles in the area are treated to prevent this, and washed as soon as you turn them in. If you are driving your own car during love bug season, you may want to apply a coat of unbuffed paste wax on the front end to protect the paint, especially on the underside of the front bumper. (It's also not a bad idea to put a screen over the air intakes; if you are doing a lot of daylight highway driving at peak season, they can clog them.)

Love bugs are a type of fly, and besides heat and light colors, they are attracted to many of the same things as other types of flies, especially sweet scents. Avoid coconut-oil sunscreens and skip the perfume when they are out, and be sure to check benches and chairs before sitting down outdoors, so that you don't sit on them.

 

[gctong]

Thank you for wdw_writers & NotUrsula for the lovebug information. I was getting concerned about them but it sound like it should be manageable. I feel better that the rental car will be "prepared" for such things.

I especially appreicate the hints not to use coconut based products or perfume (i'm allergic to scents so that shouldnt' be a problem.) Bug spray any help?

Are they more attracted to certain colors? Should I avoid yellows and reds? I was considering bringing some color clothes instead of the whites, beiges and blacks. Is that a bad idea? I once owned a bright pink jacket that attracted some weird bug..quickly got rid of the jacket!

 

[NotUrsula]

Actually, love bugs like white the best, and pale blue. Generally, pale clothing is more attractive to them than bright or dark colours. Don't go nuts and wear dark clothes to avoid them, though; baking in the Florida sun wearing dark clothes is much worse than a few love bug encounters.

 

[msvlwb]

Love bugs are really not that big a deal. You should've seen how it was before they started making some sterile. Your whole care windshield and grill covered in black smashed bugs. There use to be bug wash areas at rest stops so you could see to drive.

But they are about like lightening bugs. They float and lightly land.
Kinda neat for kids to play with. Ususally Early may and Early Sept.

I'm from Florida so this is when we notice them.

 

[mitros]

"Official" love bug months are May and September. However, they can start a week or so earlier and last a week or so after the end of these months. If you use your own car, most definetley put a good coat of wax on the area of the roof just above the windshield, as well as the front of the hood and the grill and front end. You can also purchase an in expensive "bug guard," sort of a screen that you can just discard rather then try to clean. These little suckers can and do pitt the paint on your car if left on too long. And they do no harm to humans. But they can be unbeliveable pests when they fall into your hiball. And during exceptionally heavy periods of infestation, they can get into everything outdoors, and they will fly right into the room with you. And they DO land on you, and cause the ladies to go: "EWWWW". Yuck!