Lovebugs Are Bad!

[palmetto]

Love bugs can't bite. They can't eat. I'm not sure they have mouths--they get all their eating done during the larval stage and the adult stage is for the very charming little maneuver they do to get to be called "love bugs". They're attracted to yellow and white--nobody knows why. The best part is that their bodies are very acidic. This means that 1) you'll want to get that goo off of your car ASAP so that it doesn't etch the paint and 2) they have very few natural predators because they don't taste good.

 

[momandseandodisney]

EWW - are they in the parks alot too, or just in the hotel parts?

 

[momrek06]

GROSS!!!

 

[Lorelai]

Blahhh! Those are G-R-O-S-S...

I have never seen them before & we always go in May.

What is their typical "busy" (or should I say, "gettin' busy" ) season?

 

[Harvest02]

YUCK!!! The pictures are nasty! How long is lovebug season in Florida? We are going down next year about the 3rd week of October. Are they still around then? At least I won't have to worry about my van getting all yucky from the bugs since we are flying down!

 

[shyjade]

Unfortunately for me, September is their "gettin' busy" time!

Honestly, those pictures look so disgusting but as a self-proclaimed bug-hater, they really aren't as gross in real life. They are more annoying than anything. Maybe I feel that way because I know they're getting their groove on and not trying to eat my skin...

Still wondering if normal bug spray helps??

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Why can't they just get a room!

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

Better lovebugs than bedbugs!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Bug spray does not affect them.

 

[shyjade]

Bug spray does not affect them.

That's what I thought; I surely would've remembered spraying the heck out of them when we lived in FL if it worked. What i DO remember is being rather embarassed as a teen while lying on the beach and having those things land on me...knowing what they were doing...

My DD8 is gonna freak when she sees them, especially if/when she knows what they're doing...

 

[KimWDW]

EWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!! Those pictures are so gross!!!!!!!!

I never saw one of those when we went last October. I'm hoping this infestation is a quick thing that will be over with once October comes???

Ew. Ew. Ew.

 

[jacksonsmom]

Those pics are going to scare the begesus out of those who have never seen them in real life!!!

ME!!!!!
Those pictures gave me the chills!!! I HATE bugs, any kind, I hate it!!!!!
OK, I know not to wear white now. Those things are ugly, I sure would not want them landing on me! YUCK!

We leave 9/30 to head down there! Will they still be around???
PLEASE tell me they won't.......PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GrandFloridian4]

The news the other day reported that they are typically around for 5-6 weeks (in May & Sept.) & they come out strongly around 10:00 a.m., when it begins to get very warm, & go away again at dusk, when it cools down. I think they've been around about 2 weeks now.

Yesterday, it was like it was "snowing" bugs as we drove down the road. Yuck! I washed my car & in the 5 miles it took to get home the windshield was pasted with them & the front of the car was covered, also.

Some friends of ours are in Disney & asked us "How can you stand the heat & the bugs down here???" I told them that both go away shortly & neither lasts the entire year.

Here's some info. from a very helpful website:
"There are several things that can be done to lessen the problem facing motorists. By traveling at night motorists can avoid the insects; lovebugs reach peak activity at 10:00 am and stop flying at dusk. Traveling at slower speeds will reduce the number of bugs that will be spattered. A large screen placed in the front of the grill will keep the radiator fins from clogging, and will protect the finish on the front of the car. If a large screen is not used in front of the grill, at least place a small screen behind the grill in front of the radiator.
Spattered bugs should be washed off the car as soon as possible. Lovebugs are more easily removed, and the chance of damaging the car's finish is lessened if the car has been waxed recently. When the remains are left on an unwaxed car for several days, the finish will often be permanently damaged. Soaking for several minutes with water aids in their removal. When lovebugs are numerous, some motorists spread a light film of baby oil over the front of the hood, above the windshield and on the grill and bumper. This practice will make their removal a simpler task."

 

[schlepsnort]

Ok I've never had the deal with lovebugs and now I'm reading that they can ruin the paint finish to your car. Does anyone know how car rental agencies deal with this? Like will they tell us we have to wash the car every night or before returning it? Would we be liable for paint damage from a bug that we've never dealt with?

 

[lawlesslovewdw]

Ewwwwww - do you americans have to supersize everything

Ps love your cars just got a chrysler 300c - love it

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

This is me after seeing those pictures. I just might wear a poncho full time to keep those critters off me! I was planning on wearing white too since it's going to be too hot to wear darker colors. My poor T&C has gotten keyed and 2 dings in it already. I can probably assume I'm going to get permanent lovebug damage to the paint too. I'll have to buy Windex for the trip and tell DH to fill the windshield fluid.

Oh and 2 years ago we went to WDW starting 10/7 and there were no lovebugs.

 

[phanomouse]

Come on people don't you know that "Its Tough to be a Bug"?

 

[ladysoleil]

YES they're BAD this year, and seem to be worse in Orlando, seeing as I was at Disney on Tuesday and they were all over the monorail stations, on the ground, IN the monorails, etc.

But for those of you scared of bugs, they arent anything to really worry about, they hardly make any noise, they fly but are very slow, dont bite or sting. They can just become a mess on the front of a car or on the ground.

You've obviously never seen me screaming and flailing in terror trying to prevent a venomous piece of airborne dryer lint, cat fur or falling leaf (that potentially could have been a bug) from attacking me, have you?

Oy. I think I'm gonna lose a lot of weight next week from running around in circles and flapping my arms yelling "get it off me!".

(I know it's really stupid of me. I just can't help it!)

 

[shyjade]

I'll have to buy Windex for the trip and tell DH to fill the windshield fluid.

Forget the Windex and buy a Scraper!

Seriously, that baby oil thing sounds like the way to go if you're driving...glad I'm taking Disney's ME!!

 

[makinorlando]

DD was outside playing and came in because they were bothering her... she doesn't mnd lovebugs per say, but they were just annoying her!

I hate that are all over my windshield though.... gotta hit the carwash this evening!

I remember our first September here - we were driving up 417 in the late afternoon to the Zoo - across Lake Jessup, and just as we hit the bridge - I though it odd that it started to rain, not until we got to the other side of the bridge did I realize it was not rain, but BUGS.... not quite sure why they were so much worse over the water - but it was GROSS. I was at the car wash when it opened the next morning!