Depending on one's perspective, seeing a bunch of bugs splattered on the grill of a car can be either gross or a work of art.
And now that we are almost to the middle of May, in Southwest Florida, there are many more opportunities for interpretation because it is officially lovebug season. Cars, trucks, visors on motorcycle helmets − you name anything on wheels and there's a good chance lovebugs, or their remains, can be found there.
Maybe you are new to the area and have no clue about lovebugs. Or you are a long-time resident and could use a refresher. So, we've asked a local expert, Billy Gunnels, to answer some questions about the bug with the scientific name of Plecia nearctica.
Check out these lovebug photos:From the archives: 10 of our best, cutest, grossest lovebug photos
Gunnels, a Ph.D., is a professor and the chair of Florida Gulf Coast University's department of Biological Sciences. He is a practicing biologist, and his inquiries include animal behavior and wildlife ecology. He is particularlyinterested in issues pertaining to social interactions between humans and wildlife.
When exactly is lovebug season in Florida?
GUNNELS: We have two and a half (seasons). So, we have the largest swarm of lovebugs come out around this time of year. Late spring, right before the wet season. We then have a second large, but somewhat smaller emergence of lovebugs late in the summer, right before the dry season. And then down here, we will frequently get a third, Well, they call it a third emergence of lovebugs in the middle of winter between December and January, and that is unique to South Florida — and it’s not every year.
Winter emergence? Can you tell us more?
GUNNELS: It's also much smaller. In fact, it can occur, and people won't even notice. May is the big one. This is the big kahuna for us. And then that August, September will be big as well, but not, not as big (as now). And then December, if it occurs, people can miss it.
How did lovebugs get here?
GUNNELS: There's been some contention about that, but they appear to have naturally migrated along the Gulf Coast from Central America through Mexico, through Texas, Louisiana, until they got to Florida. And since arriving in Florida, they have exploded and been very, very, very successful. By the 1970s, lovebugs had traveled across the entire state.
Why are they called lovebugs?
GUNNELS: I think there are two reasons behind it. One, they have a little red dot on their back. So kind of reminds you a little bit of a heart. And then, when we see them as adults, we almost always see them attached and mating, and that’s love!
Amazing bird photos:How'd he do it? Wildlife photographer shares insights on 5 stunning wading bird images
Are lovebugs called anything else?
GUNNELLS: Double-edged bug. Kissing bug. But lovebug is the most common and by far the best.
Do lovebugs bite?
GUNNELS: No. Not at all.
What attracts lovebugs?
GUNNELS: They appear to do well around heat, which is one of the reasons they seem to be particularly abundant along roads. They like landscapes, and that's where they lay their eggs, and that's where the larvae feed, so they feed within our lawns. Also, the type of habitat you find right next to roads. And then each other, I mean, the second a female emerges as an adult, she mates, and then they survive for just a little while, and then they die in less than a few days.
Giant sea shells found:Shelling on Sanibel: Visitors from Buffalo uncover two large horse conch shells
Are lovebugs in any way harmful to humans, other than having to go to the car wash a lot?
GUNNELS: They are purely a nuisance. Their body is a little bit acidic when it gets on the car, and when it's killed, that acid can cause some harm to older vehicles. It's not a big issue nowadays, but it is worth cleaning off the car if you go through a swarm.
Does anything repel lovebugs?
GUNNELS: No, because they're really doing one thing, and that is they are here to mate. They're not interested in anything else, and they find each other as soon as the adults emerge. Males are actively looking for the presence of females. So that's one thing they're interested in. As soon as they mate, the female does all the work, flies around with the male on her back, doing nothing. They mate for a few days, then the male dies, and the females have been known to carry around the male until she lays eggs, and then she dies.
How long do lovebugs stay attached to each other?
GUNNELS: Their entire adult lifetime, which is only a few days. But they mate. That’s what they do. They are swarming — males are looking for females. Slightly larger males tend to be more successful. So you can find individual solitary males by themselves who haven't found their love.
What would lead to a 'strong' lovebug season vs. a 'weak' lovebug season?
GUNNELS: A combination of rainfall and dry. If it’s too wet, larvae tend to get flooded out. They need the right environment between wet and dry. The larvae feed on decaying vegetative matter at the bottom of lawns and forests. As long as that environment has that right balance, they do well.
What time should we drive to avoid lovebugs?
GUNNELS: Evening. They're going to be flying around more during the day. And that's also when we like to be awake.
Do lovebugs live only in Florida?
GUNNELS: They are really widespread. They are all across from Central America through the southeast United States. And they have appeared to have expanded their range.
