Lovebug Season Is Upon Us: Here’s What You Need to Know About March Flies
February is the month of love, but it’s also the time when lovebugs (AKA March Flies) start to emerge from their wintertime hideouts. In today’s blog, our experts in integrative pest management are here to teach you all about lovebugs, where they got their nickname, and more.
What Are Lovebugs/March Flies?
March flies (Genus sp.) are insects with slim black or brown bodies, a distinct orange thorax, and a cute nickname: the lovebug.
However, that nickname is the only thing cute about March Flies.
Why Are March Flies Called Lovebugs?
You know that one couple in your life that always goes overkill with the PDA and makes everyone around them uncomfortable? In lovebug season, it’s like you’re seeing a bunch of that, but with bugs.
March flies got their “lovebug” nickname for similarly clingy, intimate public behavior; if you see them, chances are they’re linked together in a pair (actively mating), flying and landing without separating.
Unlike PDA-heavy humans on Valentine’s Day, lovebugs don’t know any better.
While it’s true that modern etymologists find insects more intelligent than they thought previously, non-human animals (including March Flies and other insects) don’t feel “exposed” or ashamed of “indecency” when mating in front of an audience.
So, why don’t lovebugs scatter when threatened?
Lovebugs stay attached mid-copula even when they must fly away from predators. The two main reasons are simple:
- Detaching would take too much time when the March Flies need to escape quickly.
- The March Fly couple has not completed their mating session; they’re still “having a good time” (and yes, we felt as awkward writing that as you did reading it).
Why Are March Flies Pests?
Before we label a creature we’re featuring a “pest,” we like to consider its value as a living being and how it impacts humans’ livelihoods.
In nature, March Flies have considerable value as pollinators for plants, such as Brazilian Pepper Trees, Sweet Clovers, and others. However, March Flies on your property can cause more harm than good.
Here’s how and when we determine that March Flies (lovebugs) are pests:
- If March Flies are clogging the engine of your car and potentially causing it to overheat (yes, they often do this),
- If March Flies are a nuisance, swarming your property, and
- If March Flies are nesting on your property for larger future populations.
Keeping Your Property Pest-Free During Lovebug Season.
No matter how lovebugs negatively impact your home, lawn, or other property, call Vulcan Termite & Pest Control; we’ll come to your rescue, evacuating the hyper-affectionate insects and implementing solutions to prevent their return!
Our team of integrative pest management professionals has spent over 40 years proudly assisting hundreds of families in Birmingham and nearby communities by investigating and resolving pest problems on their properties. We promise to never lose sight of our dedication to providing excellent service and comprehensive solutions.
Call (205) 663-4200 or contact us online today, and we’ll gladly perform a FREE inspection and create and implement an effective, custom strategy using our tried-and-true methods, so you and your family can enjoy a pest-free home.