Love Bugs

[countrygirl]

Is it just me, or are the love bug this year not nearly the nuisance they have been the past couple of years? Is the new foggy mosquito spray killing them, or have I just not waited long enough this year for the main "crop" to arrive?

[SoMissTV]

SHUT UP.
[If we don't talk about them, maybe they'll ignore us.]

[pEtAl mIsFiT]

someone asked me just today if I had them in my house. I haven't noticed that many at my house

[Ted]

Mmmmmm - - -Plecia nearctica - - - - they don't seem as bad as usual to me either around here - I haven't inhaled any -
-Yet - :-D
- but other parts of the South are having the usual plague.

Here's nearly everything ya ever wanted to know about Love Bugs (http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/lovebug.htm).
More (http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/newsletters/hortupdate/sept06/LoveBgs.html)


These beasties are native to South America. They mate in the spring down there, thus one of the common names - March Flies. Since the seasons are reversed down there compared to ours, they get their timing screwed up and we are sometimes blessed with their amorous urges both spring and fall.;)

[Maggie-Doodle]

I have seen a few love bugs but so far they have been sporadic..they can stay that way as far as I am concerned!

[EricStratton]

These have to be the most miserable creatures on Earth....I love my wife, but to be physically attatched to my mate 24/7 just seems like pure torture.....I think it not an accident when one flies into the grill of a 70 MPH vehicle.....

[firefly]

They have an acid in their bodies that will etch your paint job on your vehicle. I hate'em!:smt118

[ComputerDude]

The love bug thing hasn't been that bad since Katrina came through. Really this is the first time I've even noticed them since the storm.

[countrygirl]

Where were you after the storm CD? They were the worst they have ever been about a week after Katrina at my house!

[ComputerDude]

Where were you after the storm CD? They were the worst they have ever been about a week after Katrina at my house!Well the week after the storm they were terrible. But since then, barely anything.

[Mslady]

I have a white car and usually they are stuck all over the grill but not this year. I think it might be safe to wash it.:smt023

[Natural Sunshine]

There seems to be several on the front of my car already....I hate love bugs!!! Seems they always show up after some type of tropical system come through...

[Mslady]

I take it back...lots of lovebugs today!:oops:

[Sweetie]

I think it depends on your location. We went to Franklin County to visit my family over the weekend and OMG at the love bugs. You couldn't get outside because of them.

[Guru]

This does seem to have been a light year so far.
Just after Katrina my gosh at the bugs. The wife of one of my cousins kept calling me to come do something and I would spray them for her, bugs literally in piles. The planets must have aligned during that time.
Bugs. That's another good reason I like cold weather.

[omie2]

They were light here untill about two days ago and now there are bazillions of them.

[countrygirl]

:oops::cry: Oh shucks. I knew I should have kept my big mouth shut. They're everywhere outside at my house today.

[RacnFan432011]

They're really bad on the coast. I had to stop three times to wash my windshield on the drive back.

[SoMissTV]

Thanks to everyone for talking about this.

I drove to Columbia and Picayune today, and my vehicle is covered in them. I'm blaming everyone on this forum.

[Mslady]

Has anyone noticed that they seem to like white cars best?:confused:

[Imapepper]

Has anyone noticed that they seem to like white cars best?:confused:

Maybe they just show up better on white?? ;)

[Mslady]

I'll bet you're right!

[Natural Sunshine]

The love bugs seemed to have multiplied a lot since yesterday....they were worse on my way home today!!!

[carsalesguy]

i saw 2 vehicles come from slidell-

both were black on the front

[EricStratton]

Thanks to everyone for talking about this.

I drove to Columbia and Picayune today, and my vehicle is covered in them. I'm blaming everyone on this forum.

Quit cryin' like a little girl.....You sound like Doc....

[countrygirl]

I really do think that they like white...They congregate on my white doors and on the outside where it is painted white....Of course, since my doors are white, they get inside everytime I open my door and get on the floor, and on the carpet, and EVERYWHERE! If these bugs came from somewhere else, I wish we could send them back...even better...is there any way we can ship all of them off to China?

[Sweetie]

Has anyone noticed that they seem to like white cars best?:confused:

YES!! Anything light colored.

[proudtobefrompetal]

I know there's a thread on here somewhere about love bugs but I can't find it this morning. I need a home remedy to ward these dern things off! My car is white - the trim on my house is white - SO THE AGGRAVATING THINGS ARE EVERYWHERE!!!! I walked outside this morning and there are probably 100 of them dead on top of my car which was just washed yesterday afternoon. I'm to the end of my rope with these things! I know I've read somewhere before about something you can put outside to at least "help" with them. Any suggestions? And before anyone jumps back with get used to them or move... I've lived in So MS my entire life - I lived through 3 weeks of no electricity after Katrina with love bugs EVERWHERE... I've just had enough this year.

[Honey]

I know they made fishing in a white boat this weekend somewhat horrible. I took a nap because I couldn't stand them touching me. I just don't understand their purpose.

[ComputerDude]

I think the original thread is in the Petal section.

[Guru]

I've heard many theories about color but after Katrina they massed on everything. The most I saw in swarms was on my cousins house and it's all medium to dark wood reclaimed from old houses with dark tinted floor to ceiling glass and doors. That blew that theory out of the water.
You do know that they are like a mosquito in the fact that they are not strong flyers and when they are in full tilt swarm on the Coast if a disturbance comes on land it brings them up here.

[queenrey]

we got out at a gas station and i swear they about toted us off the place we got out at they were awful
but the worst thing when they are this bad is when you hang your hand out the window and one goes "SMOOSH!" on your hand. eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww
yes this has happened to me
i know very disgusting
i am so glad when they go away

[Baloo]

I had swarms of them at my house before I left and am glad that I am getting abreak from them for a while! They are just nasty!

[countrygirl]

The things STINK to high heaven! Yuch! I remember after the storm I had a time because I couldn't vacuum my carpet and they SMELLED.

[Bahlk]

My wife's vehicle's ('04 Dodge Caravan) radiator attracts them like vultures to road kill. They make it through the grill and then they bake on the hot radiator. Every other day I take it to the car wash and use the pressure washer to get them out. Kinda nasty

[Guru]

I forgot to do the cooking Pam thing this past week before leaving home but I have tried it on my jeep bumper guard before and it does help in getting them off.

[58ford]

Here's a trick my step dad taught me. Before you hit the road for a long trip spray down the leading edges of your car with Pam cooking spray. Then wash it off when you get where you're going. It really helps with the love bugs.

[ynotme297]

why is it that they love anything white in color and fresh paint?
my work truck is white and i can get ready to go somewhere and they are all over it. doesn't seem so bad on the other cars parked beside me.

[gonefishin]

Who started this "The love bugs aren't so bad crap?" They were not a problem before this thread was started. I'm trying to get a new house painted people and they didn't show up before someone invited them. Someone is gonna pay for this!!!! Deep breath......I'm ok now.

[Tully Mars]

Is it just me, or are the love bug this year not nearly the nuisance they have been the past couple of years? Is the new foggy mosquito spray killing them, or have I just not waited long enough this year for the main "crop" to arrive?

Famous last words...

[SouthChic]

Is it just me, or are the love bug this year not nearly the nuisance they have been the past couple of years? Is the new foggy mosquito spray killing them, or have I just not waited long enough this year for the main "crop" to arrive?

Of course they're not a nuisance to you; they are all out at our new home all over everything that is white, especially the columns on the front porch!!! We have 4 of these columns and they are caked on every one of them. :smt076

Stupid Love Bugs!! (http://www.myhattiesburg.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1014)
http://www.myhattiesburg.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11406/thumb_Sept_25%2C_2007_011.jpg (http://www.myhattiesburg.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1014)

[Honey]

Well, I know about two hundred of those dern things that ain't going to make it to the planting because I sent them on to the afterlife. And, if I can find my fly swat I'll send their freinds to join them.

[gonefishin]

I have a convencing hunch that these bugs are attracted to carbon monoxide. I cranked up the tiller this morning for a little winter garden cultivation and there were no love bugs around. But, after only 15 minutes of tilling, they were swarming thick around the red Troy-Built and nowhere else in the garden. Motor noise may attract them to, if they have ears. I know skeeters are attacted by carbon monoxide so this may not be a long stretch.

I'm willing to bet that they are attracted to highways for the same reason. And too, I agree that white is their fave color.

Same thing happened to me while cutting grass today on the riding mower. I finally found a way to make my first million....find something that will get rid of love bugs.:smt023

[bpitt]

I've read somewhere that they in fact are attracted to carbon monoxide, for some reason. Hence, being around cars, gas stations, lawn mowers, gassy people, etc......

[pEtAl mIsFiT]

I hope with the cooler temps they will be out of here!

[H'burg Lady]

:bowrofl:My little one (8 yrs old) asked me last night if a love bug has to have 2 heads to live...

Stupid love bugs!!! Everything is made for a reason...anyone knows the reason for these????????:smt102

[Maggie-Doodle]

:bowrofl:My little one (8 yrs old) asked me last night if a love bug has to have 2 heads to live...

Stupid love bugs!!! Everything is made for a reason...anyone knows the reason for these????????:smt102

Yeah, to aggravate the mess out of us! To ensure the car washes don't go out of business...to give us something to bitch about! give me some time and I will think of others! :kekeke:

[Chichiguita]

That was the best!

[firefly]

They are everywhere & I can't stand them! One flew up my nose yesterday! Ugh!:smt118

[H'burg Lady]

Yeah, to aggravate the mess out of us! To ensure the car washes don't go out of business...to give us something to bitch about! give me some time and I will think of others! :kekeke:


Good source of protein as well ... how many of u have had one fly down in your mouth ... all i can think about is what they are doing while they are "stuck" together... and what that produces...and now the d*mn think just flew in my mouth!? :smt078

[SVT97Cobra]

I am about sick of them. You clean your windshield, and drive a mile down the road and you can't see out of it again. Gets VERY annoying.

[ComputerDude]

No love bugs around my house anymore. I figured their "loving" season was over.

[proudtobefrompetal]

No love bugs around my house anymore. I figured their "loving" season was over.



:smt018 SSSHHHHHH!!!! Don't say anything! They'll hear you and they'll come out to play!

[pooker]

They are definately in p-ville all over my car. : (

[Hob684]

i've been really fortunate this year... I only drive down 4th to USM and down 4th to work.. maybe 2 miles max each way. i never really get going fast enough to kill 'em and squash 'em on my car. I think i may have 1 dead one on it..

my porch however is covered with their little dead bodies..



(my little cousin was visiting from new york and her mom mentioned "love bugs" and she said "Mama, them ain't love bugs! They're two headed flies!"

:laugh::laugh:

[jojobeans1120]

I was was washing my truck (SUV, whatever you want to call it) yesterday afternoon. It was pitiful! It took so long to get them all off that it turned dark on me. :ohnoes:

[bpitt]

I hate their smell........