Love Is in the Air: What Are Lovebugs?
Whether you’re jamming to Lovebug by George Strait with your significant other or singing Lovebug by the Jonas Brothers loudly in the car, the love can be felt in the air—even for pests!
It’s quite common to think that the term “lovebug” is used only to describe two people wildly in love (the term is in so many songs, so why wouldn’t you think that), but did you know there is actually a real bug called the lovebug?
These bugs are usually found “stuck” together in pairs—they even fly in tandem because they’re mating. They’re harmless, yet they’re more annoying than loveable since they flock to your garden, grass, car, house, windshields, and more. They’re always just “there” as a nuisance. Lovebugs are always around throughout the year, but you can see them more frequently during their mating season which is in May and September.
A Bit of History About Lovebugs
According to entomologists (a scientist who studies insects), lovebugs migrated to the U.S. from Central America in the 1920s and have stayed ever since. They reside in the warmer, more humid regions of the U.S. especially near the Gulf Coast in Florida. Their dense population is caused by two factors:One. many predators disregard them as food and consistently ignore them. And two, they procreate rapidly per day by the hundreds!
Rumor has it that these bugs were created by the University of Florida to help control the mosquito issue, but that’s not entirely true. The University of Florida did not create them, but they do eat mosquitoes and other things.
What else do they eat, you may ask? Ultimately, they benefit the environment by feeding on plant nectar including sweet clover, goldenrod, and Brazillian pepper. They are drawn to anything warm and light in color. Much like other insects, including the Honey Bee, they are pollinators and do more good than harm.
The Circle of Life
The lifespan of these insects is incredibly short! The lifecycle of an adult lovebug is only 3 to 4 days while most of their time is spent procreating. Once they lay their eggs, the female lovebug dies. Her eggs hatch after 2 to 4 days, starting the new lifecycle over again.
The More You Know
Now, when you’re singing all the lyrics to all the lovey-dovey songs on the radio, you can be reminded that lovebugs are a real bug that you can look for in nature. Keep your eyes peeled for the black and red bug that always has a buddy with them! If you’re curious to learn more about lovebugs—including ways to get rid of them if they’re stuck in your home—contact us and we would love to chat.