It’s the season of love, which means extra trips to the car wash. Every summer between in months of April and May and August through September, these pesky lovebugs swarm the sky. These insects took a vacation to Florida in the 1940s and unfortunately, will never be packing their bags again.
What are lovebugs? They are a species of fly found in parts of Central America and the Southeastern United States. Fun fact: they are also known as the honeymoon fly or double-headed bug. These flies are closely related to the March fly and mosquitoes. Sadly, they do not eat mosquitos, which was is a common misconception. Many people believe that they do not serve a purpose, in fact they do.
After mating, the female lovebug deposits eggs into the soil. When the larvae hatches, they begin to consume the dead vegetation that surround them. This process redistributes essential nutrients back into the ground and benefits the plants and the environment. As the weather warms, these bugs emerge from the soil as flies. This is when they become a nuisance to humans.
These bugs are attracted to black top roads and highways, things that produce emissions, and items that produce heat. This is why so many swarms are splattered across the front of grills and windshields. Their acidic insides can cause damage to car paint if they are not removed. Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover does the trick. You can also buy a bug splatter sponge to help remove the dead bugs. If you have to drive at night, there is some good news, these bugs do not fly at night.
Although there is a ton of negativity surrounding these little romantic flies, there is one positive way to look at them…They let us know when summer is beginning and when fall is near.
Happy summer!