Wednesday, August 13, 2008

THE LOVE BUGS WILL GET YOU


We are about to be hit with those blasted lovebugs again. They land all over anything and everything. They get in your hair, land on food or drink when you try to eat outside, die by the thousands on your windshield, lights, grills and are very hard to remove. To get rid of the mass of deceased love bugs that shellacked themselves to your car's finish, I have help. There is a product called Spray and Wash that can help clean them up. Simple Green can help too. They can cause your car to overheat if they get drawn into the cooling system of liquid cooled engines. These are some bad bugs. I feel no love for them at all. Okay, maybe a little.

The love bug, Plecia nearctica, is a member of the family of march flies. It is also known as the honeymoon fly, telephone bug, kissy bug or double-headed bug. The adult is a small, flying insect common to parts of Central America and the southeastern United States, especially along the Gulf Coast. The adult love bug feeds on the nectar of flowering plants. Upon reaching maturity the love bug spends almost the entirety of its life copulating with its mate, hence its numerous romantic nicknames. Think of it like this: they meet-and-greet and date-and-mate all in one fun-packed evening.

"Once large enough, larva will spin cocoons in
which they will undergo metamorphosis and emerge
as fully mature flying adults. This change will
usually take 1-2 weeks. As flying adults, males
have one thing on their minds: find females".


And just how is that different from human males, pray tell!!!

Folklore says they might be a result of an experiment gone wrong in a Florida lab. Mixing a mosquito with a genetically altered fly to create an enemy for mosquito larva. See what can happen when you mess with Mother Nature!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ooh, you can keep those "Love Bugs" all to yourself. Doesn't sound like a bug I am missing from my garden at all. :)

tina said...

I remember these things when I lived in Alabama. They were a nuisance! You bring back memories for sure. Hope you survive it all.

Anonymous said...

Not me! I watch out for male counterparts!
Brenda

Susie said...

Oh no, not the love bugs! I can't stand those things either. I think we should call them kissy bugs though. That's just funny!!

Joy said...

I have never seen love bugs, and after your post, I think I'm pretty happy that I haven't.
I have enjoyed looking at your other, more pleasant, posts. It makes me want to go out and garden. Too bad it's been so hot lately.

Rae said...

I'm with Joy....no love bugs, please! Good luck!!

Gail said...

This is a new bug for me! Yikes such a great name and lost on a pest! So sorry he/they/it/she are with you!

Gail

Skeeter said...

I think the name “Love Bug” should go to the Lady Bug as everyone loves her! I have not had any experience with these, so maybe we live far enough off the coast to have them here. Dont think I am missing them either. Naughty little bugs…tee hee

JunieRose2005 said...

Hi Eve,


Oh, yah! Almost time for the Love Bugs!! We have a big problem with them here- I have written about them in the past- on my blog. LOL- It's sure no fun riding the motorcycle during their time!!



Junie

Eve said...

junierose...Haha..no, I don't think motorcycles and lovebugs are compatible.

Rose said...

I don't think I've ever seen one of these before. I'll just look at them on your blog, thank you; I don't care to see them here in the Midwest:)

cinnamongirl93 said...

Hmmm, we don't have any love bugs here. We did get overwelmed by Japanese Beetles by the thousands. They have the same thing on their minds too. The nasty creatures also love to eat leaves off of everything! Yuk!
I hope they leave soon!

flydragon said...

Hi eve,
Have never heard of the love bug and never want to see one! Hopefully they'll never want to migrate up here!!!

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