They're Back! RE: LoveBugs!

[PeabodyJen]

Okay, the whole love bug thing sounds gross, but I think my family and I will be able to handle it when we go in mid-May. The only thing I'm not prepared for is having to give my almost-9yo DS a talk on the birds and the bees! Seriously, he's going to be wondering why those bugs have their rear ends stuck together. I guess I'll have to convince him that WDW is so special that it even has 2-headed bugs! Now THAT'S cool when you're 9!

 

[shaciam630]

While love bugs don't bite and are simply annoying to most people to those with a real phobia of bugs they are terrifying especially if it's a year when they are out in full force.

People without this "phobia" don't understand the anguish or hysteria of the those who have it. (this is true with all phobia's ) I have a true bug phobia especially with flying ones.

I had never heard of love bugs until two years ago when we went for the first time in September to WDW and there was an extremely heavy infestation of them in the WDW area. They literally ruined my two week vacation. (so much so that we left 4 days early). We were at POR and the door to our room would be blanketed in them, my DH had to get a paper to sweep them off before I could enter without being followed by hundreds of them. The bus stops all over were swarming with them, you would have them all over you while waiting for a bus. This was the only year I kept hopping in taxi's to travel because I couldn't stand having them all over me. We couldn't even use the pool because they were all over the chairs making it impossible to sit down because if you did then they were all over you. In the parks it wasn't quite so bad but many areas had swarms of them. Bench's everywhere were covered with them. I spent most of the time we were there in my room too scared to go out. (again you have to be able to understand the workings of a true phobia which most people who don't have one can't understand).

Last year we went the last week of May and first week of June thinking to miss them but they were there. They were not nearly as bad as the previous September but still put a damper on my trip and again we left early.

Okay seriously I am also one of the people who have a horrible phobia of things with little legs and wings (including birds). I've been so freaked out we wanted to move our trip (Coming 18-24 of May). I am seriously considering begging my doctor for nerve meds. I having been trying to find out just how bad to expect May to be. Are they a problem on rides? I've even read that you shouldn't eat or drink outside because they would most likely end up in your food! Is it really that bad? Please someone give me a very real understanding of what to expect when I get there. Also if you all could keep me posted just how good or bad they seem to be getting as the date to my trip gets closer I'd appreciate it. This way I can brace myself for whats to come!

 

[fabfamilyof4]

Are lovebugs anything like Mayflys we get up near Lake Erie? They only live about 24 hours and stick to every window imaginable!

 

[of2dbeach]

the best way to get them off your windshiels is to get a mesh scruby and scrub them off before the sun bakes them on. We put rain-x on the headlights and windshield / windows and that seems to help alot. Do NOT use the wipes and washer fluid as they smear! not usualy a problem with walking around etc they dont bite but god there annoying . Watch the truckers pull over at the truck stops to scrape them off there windshield yuck.. if thats what love does.. Forget it (heehee ) Dont forget the state bird is the mosquito

 

[of2dbeach]

okok relax.. there really not that bad usualy you see them on the highways and at rest stops they are attracted to the heat of the cars.they dont bite, sting etc they dont even make noise . there small black bugs with there butts joined together ( cause there IN LOVE ) anyways here is a link about them . http://www.floridaenvironment.com/programs/fe00508.htm I have lived here my entire life and they dont last long maybe a month but just a pain to get off the cars etc. read my previous post you can also use bug and tar remover but prevention is alot easier. We keep a mesh scrubby in the car with some windex and paper towels in a plastic bag when we travel to DW and this has helped . I never had any go in my drinks, food or otherwise i guess maybe at the pool you might see a few but its not like bees attacking you or anything . they just want to umm.. well you know Hope this helps!

 

[shaciam630]

Thanks! I'm crossing my fingers that its that simple. We won't even have a car to worry about. We're doing magical express. I just don't want to ruin the vacation for everyone if I'm freaking out all the time. My mom has only been on a plane once in her life and has never been to florida or disney for that matter and my dad hasn't since 1971! I've just seen a lot of horrible pictures of them and video clips and am trying to mentally prepare myself (although I think I'm just freaking myself out more)

Thanks again! Anyone have any other good pointers for Disney May 18-24? I'm trying to make sure it's the best vacation for everyone DD will be celebrating her 12th birthday (we're taking her best friend with us) my parents and DS who is 5 and myself are who is going. All of our ADR have been made. Doing the Pirates and Princess party one night with the kids to give my parents some alone adult time to spend together.

 

[suzybeezy]

Okay seriously I am also one of the people who have a horrible phobia of things with little legs and wings (including birds). I've been so freaked out we wanted to move our trip (Coming 18-24 of May). I am seriously considering begging my doctor for nerve meds. I having been trying to find out just how bad to expect May to be. Are they a problem on rides? I've even read that you shouldn't eat or drink outside because they would most likely end up in your food! Is it really that bad? Please someone give me a very real understanding of what to expect when I get there. Also if you all could keep me posted just how good or bad they seem to be getting as the date to my trip gets closer I'd appreciate it. This way I can brace myself for whats to come!

Yes, I too have a major bug phobia and recall as a child on a family disney vacation being literally paralyzed with fear of those bugs flying everywhere. With the amount of money we pay for a vacation and how much we look forward to having a magical experience (the best it can be) like others get to enjoy without thoes bugs flying everywhere, it is deeply upsetting to think something like these darn bugs will put a damper on things. I understand folks saying relax, don't worry, they don't bite, etc. but its very difficult to relax over something that instills that level of fear in a person. Its like telling a person who has a fear of heights about riding say the Tower of Terror, relax and don't worry. Its not really possible. Now if their presence isn't huge, I can probably cope, but if they're flying all over the place like I remember from a child, I think our vacation will be ruined, at least for me.

Based on what I've read, I wonder are they more prominent in the Sept season then the May season? I also understand their levels are hard to predict. But it would be nice, since May is quickly approaching, to have some kind of indicator how bad their presence will be in May and how prevelent they will be in the parks, just based on past May seasons.

 

[shaciam630]

it is deeply upsetting to think something like these darn bugs will put a damper on things. I understand folks saying relax, don't worry, they don't bite, etc. but its very difficult to relax over something that instills that level of fear in a person. Its like telling a person who has a fear of heights about riding say the Tower of Terror, relax and don't worry. Its not really possible.

But it would be nice, since May is quickly approaching, to have some kind of indicator how bad their presence will be in May and how prevelent they will be in the parks, just based on past May seasons.

Thank you suzy!!! I"m so glad to know someone out there gets just how bad this is. I'm so worried about ruining vacation for everyone! I know I know..... don't worry. I just hope you floridian's keep me posted on just how bad these things seem to be this season.

 

[Denise Thies]

I encountered them two years ago in Disney hope they won't be there
at the end of August into Sept.

 

[Feralpeg]

I just returned from picking up my DD in Tallahassee. My car is now a mess. Nothing like a white car covered in dead lovebugs! My poor Tink license plate is disgusting! Yuck! They were in swarms in certain places along the interstate.

 

[Millie12591]

Thank you. That link says "Flights extend over periods of 4 to 5 weeks." That's encouraging news for our May 12-18th vacation. Hopefully by the time we're there, they'll be almost gone. (crossing fingers and praying)

Sorry. Not likely. Don't mean to be a downer. They will be there during that time for sure. We went last year May 24-30 and they were still there, not thick but there, sometimes they were overwhelming, but not to the point of leaving the parks. If you have a breeze they don't seem to be around much, and also they seem to be out more where it's really sunny, especially in the mornings.

 

[suzybeezy]

Sorry. Not likely. Don't mean to be a downer. They will be there during that time for sure. We went last year May 24-30 and they were still there, not thick but there, sometimes they were overwhelming, but not to the point of leaving the parks. If you have a breeze they don't seem to be around much, and also they seem to be out more where it's really sunny, especially in the mornings.

Not encouraging at all

I guess I'll just keep an eye on this thread for updates and pray like there's no tomorrow that they won't be in the masses when we're there.

 

[WDSearcher]

I just returned from picking up my DD in Tallahassee. My car is now a mess. Nothing like a white car covered in dead lovebugs! My poor Tink license plate is disgusting! Yuck! They were in swarms in certain places along the interstate.

And yet ... I have not seen a single lovebug on Disney property or at my house yet this season. Go figure.

 

[dislovinfamilyfromCT]

We are renting a car and going to be doing lots of driving up and down the coast and into and out of Orlando - does anyone know if we'll have to clean the rental car, like what is there policy on this? Do the car washes down there help to get them off or do you have to scrub? We have May Flies in CT and they swarm and go in your eyes, mouth, blahh...it never fails they swarm right around the time my DS starts baseball season...I ain't gonna let no "frisky" bugs ruin my trip! Oh and as for exlaining it to the kids, I will tell them that they are in love and live and travel together like people

 

[loonytoony]

We are also going May 10-17ish, but if they are just barely emerging, I'm guessing my week will fall right into their "flight" time.

Gross question, though...

if there are bunches of these in the air (link said hundreds of thousands), what happens on a ride like BTMRR? Do they splatter on your face, etc?

Trying not to get too grossed out...

yes they do if you wear glasses

 

[Disney0010]

We are renting a car and going to be doing lots of driving up and down the coast and into and out of Orlando - does anyone know if we'll have to clean the rental car, like what is there policy on this? Do the car washes down there help to get them off or do you have to scrub? We have May Flies in CT and they swarm and go in your eyes, mouth, blahh...it never fails they swarm right around the time my DS starts baseball season...I ain't gonna let no "frisky" bugs ruin my trip! Oh and as for exlaining it to the kids, I will tell them that they are in love and live and travel together like people

Some car washes will do a better job than others at getting them off. When I lived down there, I used Arm and Hammer baking soda. I wet the car down and then sprinkled some on the affected areas. Took a netted sponge to scrub them off. It took the bug juice off with no problem and did not hurt the paint at all. Rinsed the car and was good as new.

 

[Feralpeg]

And yet ... I have not seen a single lovebug on Disney property or at my house yet this season. Go figure.

I'll be happy to send the ones around my place over your way! I went to let the dog out earlier. I didn't see a lot of them. Just a few "couples". Nothing like I saw on the on I75.

 

[Disney0010]

I'll be happy to send the ones around my place over your way! I went to let the dog out earlier. I didn't see a lot of them. Just a few "couples". Nothing like I saw on the on I75.

Well I will get to hear them next Saturday coming down from Atlanta. What areas of 75 were the worst? Last year as soon as we got on the turnpike in Wildwood, we hit a major swarm of them.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

That would be a funny thing to see!

During lovebug season, I have considered wearing a surgical mask while mowing the yard. The mower stirs them up and they are so thick, it makes it hard not to breath them in. Yuck!

AHHHH! This TOTALLY skeeved me out! I was doing that shuddering thing at the computer when I read this!

 

[GalDisney]

I noticed a couple of love bugs when i was at the MK last week and had the same thought "they are back!" ugh lol