September Love Bugs

[silvib]

They're back - saw my first pair this morning - this is south central FL.

 

[Debbyd57]

We saw our first one last week. They aren't too thick yet, but they are definately here. YUK!!!!

 

[Sea Six]

We don't get them here along the coast, but when we drive inland LOOKOUT. One night we took the convertible for a ride inland, and when I put my hand up over the windshield, I could feel the things crashing into my hand. The windshield wipers could not keep up with the dead bodies. The next day I saw the dead ones on my front bumper - these bugs are a mess!!!!!

 

[Cathyb]

Naive Southern Californian -- what are love bugs? Is it those huge flying cockroaches we hear about? How big is big ?

Are they gone in February -- we are visitng Key West?

 

[beanie]

nah those cockroach things you are talking about are called palmetto bugs . the love bugs remind me of the lighting bugs up north without the lights and stuck together (hence the name "love" bugs ) . when they are heavy they can be a pain . I have seen a few but nothing to write home about .

 

[casey2]

Texas too!

We get them in the Houston area too. They've been here for about 2 weeks.
Keep your cars washed. Their bug guts are supposed to be acidic and eat away at the clear coat on your car.

They are funnily cute, but oh so annoying. I just wish they would eat mosquitos.

 

[Jan]

Saw my first ones yesterday. I read a helpful hint that said to use a clean fabric softner sheet to wipe them off of the car. Haven't tried it yet but hope it works. Jan

 

[caribbean]

Just came back today from Sarasota/Tampa area. We were commenting at dinner last night that we had not seem any as yet.

 

[silentg]

May and September are Lovebug months. They are called Lovebugs because they are two bugs stuck together that fly around and into things, especially car windshields and bumpers. They only last for the month, some seasons are worse than others. So far, this September I have only seen a few. TerryC

 

[ljwhit]

None in Sarasota County yet. Baby shampoo helps a lot too - getting them off and keeping them off. Of course you leave a trail of bubbles in the rain!! ha-ha.

 

[Don]

Naive Southern Californian -- what are love bugs? Is it those huge flying cockroaches we hear about? How big is big ?

Are they gone in February -- we are visitng Key West?

They are anout the size of a skinny, black house fly and their sole purpose in life is to reproduce (and mess up the paint on the front of your car, lol). I don't think they have any natural enemies. Nothing eats them, not even the anoles.
The palmetto bugs (or something very similar) that Beanie mentioned are called water bugs in SE Va, you might know them by that name.