Love Bugs

Adult Love Bugs

We seem to be currently having our semi-annual infestation of love bugs. These little pests are actually flies in the family Bibionidae. They were reported in Louisiana in the 1920’s and by the 1940’s had invaded Florida. It was erroneously reported that love bugs were introduced into Florida by the UF and USDA entomologists. However, love bugs were well established in Florida before any research was conducted. There is clear documentation on the movement of this pest around the Gulf Coast and into Florida.  This fly was first collected in Escambia County, the western most county in Florida, in 1949. It has now spread all over the state.

Love Bug Larvae

Two flights occur each year. The spring flight occurs in late April and May and the second flight occurs in August and September. Flights extend over periods of 4-5 weeks. Mating takes place almost immediately after the emergence of females. Adult females live only 2-3 days and feed on nectar of various plants. Love bugs are attracted to irradiated exhaust fumes (gas and diesel fumes exposed to sunlight) at temperatures above 83 degrees F. (usually between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.). Also, hot engines and the vibration of vehicles apparently contribute to the attraction of love bugs to highways.

Females may lay as many as 350 eggs which are usually deposited on decaying plant material. Larvae feed on the decaying plant material and live on the soil surface just beneath the decaying organic matter. The larvae are often found in pastures under cow manure. They perform a beneficial function, because they convert plant material into organic components which can be used by growing plants.

There isn’t any practical way to control love bugs with insecticides in large areas. However, smaller areas around a home could be sprayed with a registered insecticide. Love bug numbers have been somewhat reduced in recent years by predators such as birds and armadillos, and invertebrate organisms such as earwigs, beetle larvae and centipedes. There are a number of fungi which also can appreciably reduce larvae numbers. In spite of all of the natural controls, they still are a real nuisance.

There are several options available to lessen the problems facing motorists. By traveling at night motorists can avoid love bugs as they do not become active until mid-morning. Screens can be placed in front of the radiator to block incoming adults. Also, deflector shields placed at the front of the hood help reduce the number of adults impacting on the windshield and upper front finish.

Splattered bugs should be washed off the car as soon as possible. Love bugs are more easily removed, and the chance of damaging the finish on the car is lessened, if the car has been waxed recently. When the remains are left on the car for several days, the finish will often be permanently damaged. This is because the bodily contents of love bugs is somewhat acid and the acidity will increase through bacterial action over a period of a few days. Auto paint has been improved over recent years which has lessened this problem. Soaking the area for several minutes will ease removal. When love bugs are numerous, some motorists spread a thin layer of baby oil over the front of the hood, above the windshield and on the grill and bumper. This practice will make removal a simpler task.