Lovebugs??

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Okay, maybe I'm just freaking out because I just found out about these critters! But, now I'm terrified to book for September because of possibly picking one of the weeks that they swarm. I saw a video on YouTube and a few pics of how they're everywhere in the parks. I just can't imagine being outdoors for a wedding with them there.

Did anyone have their wedding while they were around? Even DF wants to change months over it and he's usually one to tell me I'm overreacting.

 

[orangetiggs]

I'm not sure what they are but I've been out in sep before and dont remember having any problems with bugs.

We are hoping for 2nd sept 2008 so will we get them then?

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

i think the swarm is over...they are worst in June/July...they are now tapering off...don't worry!

 

[JandJ]

Okay, maybe I'm just freaking out because I just found out about these critters! But, now I'm terrified to book for September because of possibly picking one of the weeks that they swarm. I saw a video on YouTube and a few pics of how they're everywhere in the parks. I just can't imagine being outdoors for a wedding with them there.

Did anyone have their wedding while they were around? Even DF wants to change months over it and he's usually one to tell me I'm overreacting.

Yes, I've always found the lovebugs to be the worst in May and September. I used to work for the University of FL in Food & Ag Science - here's a link to an informative page about lovebugs:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG068

And here's a quote about the swarming:
Two flights of lovebugs occur each year. The spring flight occurs during late April and May. A second flight occurs during late August and September. Flights extend over periods of 4 to 5 weeks. Mating takes place almost immediately after emergence of the females. Adult females live only 2-3 days.

In the past couple of years I think I've seen a lot fewer lovebugs - except when we went to Disney the end of May (about a 1.5 hour drive) Oh my goodness! Our car was completely covered in the critters! Lovebugs love white and light colored clothing too, so if it were me, I would avoid May and September for an outdoor ceremony.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

that is weird because we went to Vero Resort for a wedding in June and they were so thick it was gross!!

We went on DCL last september and didn't have hardly any on our car..does rain ( or lack of ) change their breeding?

 

[Ember]

They were out in full force during my weddding/honeymoon. Honestly, they're a little annoying, but not a big hassle. And it's not like they sting or bite. I had no idea about them when I planned my wedding, which is probably a good thing or I would have been like you and had a panic.

I wouldn't worry about to too much.

 

[JandJ]

that is weird because we went to Vero Resort for a wedding in June and they were so thick it was gross!!

We went on DCL last september and didn't have hardly any on our car..does rain ( or lack of ) change their breeding?

I think it has a lot to do with weather but I don't know if there's any science to that theory. When it's cooler out, or raining more, they seem to come out later and be fewer of them. They also say they are not as bad around the ocean and we live 20 minutes from a beach in either direction, so thankfully we don't get them as bad where we live now. I just hate the darn things!

Here is a picture I found from Wikipedia from Disney in Sept. 2006 - all the black spots are lovebugs:

They don't bite or sting, at least, but they are really annoying. If they die on your car you have to wash them off quickly or it destroys the paint. Our car wash place has a $5 lovebug clean up special add-on to their service

 

[suzimar57]

OMG, we were in WDW this past september 2006, and it was awful!

they were everywhere, like a black blanket on benches

avoid september! avoid september!

don't kid yourself - they're attracted to the color white!!

 

[DisneyFairy19]

No mater what those things are there over the summer

 

[Tabetha]

We were there from Sept 30 - Oct 5 or 6 last year and we did notice them, but they were tapering off. By the end of our stay, there were a LOT fewer of them.

 

[theantibride]

Over the past many years I have been to Disney at every point duringt he year even in the height of lovebug madness and have never found them to be that annoying. Maybe all the years in Florida I'm used to them but personally they don't bother me. I say if you really want a September wedding then go for it. Or do it a little later in the month when they aren't as numerous.

 

[StitchBride]

We had our wedding in mid May without any problems. The drive up was gross and we did need our car washed, but walking around wasn't a problem. We've also been to Disney in Sept and the same thing, our car is gross, but never an issue while we're outside (maybe they just hang out on the Turnpike?)

 

[figmentfan814]

OMG, we were in WDW this past september 2006, and it was awful!

they were everywhere, like a black blanket on benches

avoid september! avoid september!

don't kid yourself - they're attracted to the color white!!

I think it depends on the dates that you're there in September. I was there with my family in 2006 from September 6-11 and we didn't see any, so I'm sure it varies.