I hate love bugs!

[SailorBob]

This weekend I was mowing and had to stop and clean out the radiator screen about every 30 minutes. It was not chaff stopping it up it was love bugs. They are like a plague this year the worst I can ever remember them being. They are just swarming everywhere. You can't even open the door to your house without a dozen flying in.

I was just curious if anyone else has this problem...

 

[Lunk]

Ah yesssss...The dreaded asian beetle invasion. If you've got soybeans planted nearby, they're especially bad. Originally brought over here to feast on aphids that were in turn feasting on the soybeans. Every other year we have beans out to my place, and they are everywhere!

 

[Tig]

Saw quite a few a couple years ago, but none before and none since.

 

[Logan]

I hate to hear that they have gone north, thought they were only a southern problem. They have been bad this year in South Georgia. I heard years ago that the U of F had imported them to feast on something or another that was ruining the orange crop in Florida. One of the few things that the university had done wrong IMHO.

 

[SailorBob]

I hate to hear that they have gone north, thought they were only a southern problem. They have been bad this year in South Georgia. I heard years ago that the U of F had imported them to feast on something or another that was ruining the orange crop in Florida. One of the few things that the university had done wrong IMHO.

I grew up in Columbus, GA and we never had any there. I did not realize that they were not native to our area but, we had plenty of cudzu

 

[MMagis]

I think there may be a misunderstanding in terminology. I don’t believe the “love bugs” SailorBob is referring to are the Asian beetles that look like lady bugs. As far as I know, love bugs are a southern thing, and not a beetle.

 

[SailorBob]

I think there may be a misunderstanding in terminology. I don稚 believe the 斗ove bugs SailorBob is referring to are the Asian beetles that look like lady bugs. As far as I know, love bugs are a southern thing, and not a beetle.

The bugs that I am talking about are black with an orange head. They look kind of like fireflies. They fly around hooked up together to mate and then the male dies.

 

[GreenWannabe]

There is nothing lovely about a love bug. The car wash I used to go to in Orlando used to have a sign, "Love bug divorces granted here." They are particularly acidic, and will damage paint if not removed promptly. I used to see white van trucks turned black by a single trip from Tampa to Orlando 100 miles up I-4.

 

[backdoor]

I've seen love bugs as I travelled in the south, but never this far north (Southwest VA).However, the Asian beetles that look like ladybugs are thick here this time of year. During cooler days they congregate on the western ends of houses, and I've watched them crawl through the furry windbreaks between window sashes to get into houses. Funny, but even with the hordes of ladybugs, my rose bushes were always covered with aphids if I didn't spray them. That cudzu makes excellent groundhog fodder, but the targets are small because you usually can only see a head or part of their head.

 

[firemanpat2910]

fly united!!!!! I hate them too. I have to wash my truck every day. They are worse this year I agree. They seem to be attracted to white objects. even with all 3 parked they swarm around a white vehicle more than dark colored. We opened the overhead doors in the shop this weekend and the white walls inside were covered. I cant stand the smell. If you try and use the squeege from a gas station it stinks.

 

[tallyho8]

I hate 'em but they seem to only be around for 2 weeks then they are gone. They also seem to be attracted by exhaust fumes.

 

[beaner68]

you think you hate them ride a motorcycle with no face shield or glasses all i can say is dont open you mouth

 

[akajun]

I freakin hate Love Bugs. WHen I was a Deputy in a rural Parish, I would have to clean my windshield on my patol car twice a night so I could see.

I have found a way to help with the mess though. First, use BUG Wash brand or Rain X Brand windshield washer fluid in your car. They will wipe off with the wipers only. Two when you wash your car scrub them off with a wet dryer sheet. You wont believe how easy they come off.

 

[daTeacha]

FYI, the multi-colored Asian lady beetles were imported by some state Ag departments in an effort to control aphids on beans. We had several years here in Ohio when they were extremely abundant and invaded houses and such looking for places to overwinter. The little critters stink when you upset them and will bite you like a deer fly if you let them land on you. Forunately, we haven't had a large scale outbreak in a few years. I don't know if they've reached a balance with the aphids or if the weather has not been conducive to massive aphid populations and hence the ladybugs did not have a good year either. All I know is that life is nicer without them.

 

[MicroPilot]

I thought the thread was about this:

 

[zuiko]

FYI, the multi-colored Asian lady beetles were imported by some state Ag departments in an effort to control aphids on beans. We had several years here in Ohio when they were extremely abundant and invaded houses and such looking for places to overwinter. The little critters stink when you upset them and will bite you like a deer fly if you let them land on you. Forunately, we haven't had a large scale outbreak in a few years. I don't know if they've reached a balance with the aphids or if the weather has not been conducive to massive aphid populations and hence the ladybugs did not have a good year either. All I know is that life is nicer without them.

USDA spent decades trying to establish these things here, and they actually have the nerve to tell you not to kill them since so much effort has gone into getting them established here... amazing. Apparently in China they would overwinter in caves... in the US they try to overwinter inside your house. They are a menace here in Minnesota. I think they are pretty much everywhere. I don't think they are going anywhere... I guess that they are crowding out the native lady bugs now. Judging by how many of these things and how few real lady bugs I've seen in the past few years I'd say that sounds about right.

 

[dogtired]

FYI, the multi-colored Asian lady beetles were imported by some state Ag departments in an effort to control aphids on beans. We had several years here in Ohio when they were extremely abundant and invaded houses and such looking for places to overwinter. The little critters stink when you upset them and will bite you like a deer fly if you let them land on you. Forunately, we haven't had a large scale outbreak in a few years. I don't know if they've reached a balance with the aphids or if the weather has not been conducive to massive aphid populations and hence the ladybugs did not have a good year either. All I know is that life is nicer without them.

You are right.

What happened was we had a warm spell and then cold spell they then die off as they come out of hibernation and there is no food or they dehydrate , so they die off and the populations aren't that large.
Don't worry they will be back with the warm weather next year.

They were a big mistake, just like Multi Flora Rose Bush.

 

[tony123]

There's some things I miss about South Louisiana....Love Bugs are not one of them! Of course, it was fun as a young kid (that didn't have to wash cars).

 

[firemanpat2910]

I tried the dryer sheet this weekend, it actualy works, Ive heard of it before but never tried it. as long as truck was good and wet, they rubbed right off.

 

[pitt_md]

Maybe you have had them longer or have more of them in the south but i live in the land of 5' frost levels (Minnesota) and we have them every year too.