Love Bugs

[Tdog]

We are well into week 2 or 3 of our annual fall love bug infestation. Those critters are everywhere, flying around all locked up - - its embarassing. What's worse is that they make a real mess of your vehicle's windshield. If you go out in the middle of the day, look out. Don't think I'd want to ride a motorcycle this time of year without a full windshield. Their splashed remains do provide a good excuse to fire up the pressure washer regularly.
Do these critters invade other parts of the country too? Or is this part of the south the only region so blessed?

 

[beenthere]

What is a 'love bug' ? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Do you mean those stinky little lady bug imitations? If so, the midwest has 'em bad. Nothing will eat them.

Cliff

 

[Gatorboy]

I know they are in Florida as well. They come out twice a year four weeks at a time during -- April to May and August to September.

When you get home with smashed bugs all over your windshield and grill -- take a wet sponge or paper towel, and dab baking soda over the bugs and let it sit for a few minutes. Then get the hose and spray off the area -- this will make cleaning them off much easier.

 

[daedong]

Dave,


A very informative pic but,........... tut tut tut tut .........not a good example to new posters dave /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.


I LOVE PEOPLE THAT BREAK THE RULES ...............THAT MUST BE MY CONVICT BLOOD /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BobReeves]

Sure glad we don't have the darn things in Oklahoma. Was driving to Tampa on a job a couple of years ago during the Love bug season, what a mess. My windshield was covered to the point I had to stop, all the washer/wipers did was smear bug guts.

 

[OkeeDon]

There is no other way to show them, Vin, that's the way they exist, the way they fly, and the way they get smashed into windshields. It's the only way they are ever seen -- hence the name. They seem to prefer being near carbon dioxide and petroleum fumes -- thus they congregate near hot asphalt roads and vehicle exhausts, which makes them all the thicker for clogging up windshields and ruining paint jobs.

WD40 is also good for loosening them, and carrying the plastic lid from a coffee can of similar is handly -- the lid is easy to grip and bend, and the overlap edge makes an effective scraper for windshields.

Attached is the way Floridians usually see them.

 

[RobertN]

I thought you were talking about Herbie, the "Love Bug" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Too bad Disney does not come out with quality movies like that anymore /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I thought you were talking about Herbie, the "Love Bug" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Too bad Disney does not come out with quality movies like that anymore /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif )</font>

Yes, well, they are remaking that movie right now.
Cliff

 

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> I thought you were talking about Herbie, the "Love Bug" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Too bad Disney does not come out with quality movies like that anymore /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif </font>

I thought it was referring to the old George Jones song. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Too bad Nashville does not come out with quality music like that anymore /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[beenthere]

I love snow. Don't have those 'love bugs'. Yuuukk! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[anthonyk]

We've got 'em so bad here in Houston, that it's hard to open the door to leave the house. The outside of the house is covered in them, and they seem to LOVE goatweed.

Also driving sometimes sounds like you're in a hail storm.

anthony

 

[Tdog]

OK, they are all over the south & southeast. Doesn't make me feel any better knowing other people have to put up with them too. At least they don't bite/sting. So, I guess they are not as bad as gnats or skeeters.

 

[JazzDad]

They are disgusting! This was the worst year I've ever seen them. They seem to be attacted to light colors, more than the darker ones. The Mrs & I were trying to imagine them even worse. We came up with: they sting AND bite, they smell bad, and they carry AIDS. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

According to this article titled Splat!:

Love bugs are attracted to heat and exhaust fumes (gas and diesel fumes exposed to sunlight) at temperatures above 83 degrees F (usually between 10:00 a.m. and 4 p.m.). Hot engines and the vibrations of vehicles apparently contribute to the attraction of love bugs to highways.


Aren't they cute?

 

[bgott]

The biggest problem I have with those little boogers is that they have the same profile as a hornet when they fly into the far side of your peripheral vision.

 

[daedong]

Dave,

Have you learnt something new /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BIGUN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What is a 'love bug' ? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>

We used to call them "Telephone Bugs" cause they say "Hello" and then hang up. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

That's one thing I don't miss from Texas. Haven't seen a one up here yet. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif