Love is in the air!
While that may be true for many Villagers, the same can’t be said about those pesky love bugs, which are in the air this month.
If you’re not familiar with love bugs, they’re actually small black flies with a red thorax. They’re known to swarm along highways in Gulf Coast states. And they’re also called honeymoon flies or double-headed bugs because during and after mating, adult pairs stay coupled – even in flight – for up to several days.
Love bugs come out twice a year, in May and September. They’re known for leaving a trail of carnage behind as they collide with vehicles on Florida roadways, largely because the odor of exhaust fumes reminds them of the smell of decomposing plants. Toss in the fact that they like heat, and you can see why busy roadways and highways quickly become a mecca for the creatures that congregate by the thousands.
So, what can you expect during this love bug season? Unfortunately, the answer is bug-coated windshields that could make it difficult to see where you’re going and the knowledge that you’ll be swatting the pests if you’re trying to enjoy outdoor activities.
You also should know that common bug repellants, including various sprays and citronella candles, are pretty much worthless in the love bug battle because carbon dioxide doesn’t attract them like it does other insects. It’s also important to note that love bugs don’t bite, sting or pose a threat to any kinds of crops or plants.
You should, however, be prepared to wash the dead love bugs off your vehicle quickly, because after baking in the sun, their body fluids can damage paint jobs. So, if you drive through a swarm of love bugs, make it a priority to completely hose down your vehicle, including the grill so that the dead love bugs don’t clog the airflow to your engine and cause an overheating problem.
There’s one more thing to know: An urban legend claims that love bugs are a genetic mutation that came out of the University of Florida to control the mosquito population. That’s not true, as love bugs came to Florida just after World War II. And adult love bugs don’t eat at all, which means that mosquitoes are never on their menu.
