Love is always in the air in the Lowcountry. You know that’s true if you’ve ever witnessed our biannual lovebug invasions. The late summer/fall invasion is just now starting.
Twice each year, they emerge and mate en mass during two short cycles lasting just a few weeks or so. Lovebugs are small, black flies about a half-inch long with a red dot near the head. Here in the South, you usually see them in spring and early fall. Overnight, they emerge by the millions with one thing on their buggy little minds.
And, while they’re too busy mating and not paying attention, the love struck insects swarm around roadsides drifting into the path of oncoming traffic.
You know the drill, you end up with bug-coated windshields, grills and bumpers. Heck, most travelers just passing through the area will only ever see lovebugs as splatters on their windshields and hoods.
If you don’t know anything more than that about them, then check out 11 interesting facts about lovebugs.
The lovebug is also known as other names such as honeymoon fly, double-headed bug or kissybug.
A swarm of lovebugs can reach millions and there are generally two major swarms each year. April/May and September and each season lasts around 5 weeks. Between May and September, they’re in the larval stage and that’s why we don’t see them often.
A female lovebug will lay up to 350 eggs and typically lays them in decaying vegetation.
Although they can get annoying, lovebugs are harmless. They don’t sting or bite.
Lovebugs are attracted to cars and engines, or pretty much anything that produces heat.
Lovebugs are herbivores, eating only vegetation
The mating process for lovebugs can take several days, and that’s why we seem them flying in the air “together.”
The first species was first described in 1940 by D.E. Hardy, but was in Louisiana as 1911.
Lovebugs have acidic bodies and when they die the acidity sits on whatever surface it is on. Sadly, it’s usually on our windshield, mirrors and front end of our cars, effecting the protective coating or paint if left on without washing off.
The lovebug larvae are good for the soil because they feed on decaying vegetation close to the ground transforming organic waster to rich-nutrients.
They generally fly at night and mostly in temperatures around 84 degrees.
The pesky bugs are usually found in the Southern U.S., Mexico and in Central America.
So, keep your car washed and keep these pesky bugs off of your windshield. No, they do not sting or bite and are not known to carry any diseases, so they’re essentially nothing but a big nuisance. They don’t hurt humans, they don’t eat anything and they don’t really do any harm whatsoever.
They just mate, and they just die.
Usually on our cars, twice a year.
Lowcountry life.
READ: Lonely Lovebugs: Why do we hate them?
