Living with Living with Lovebugs in FloridaLovebugs in Florida

Norm LepplaNorm Leppla

& Jim Cuda& Jim Cuda

Lovebugs are Lovebugs are economically important! economically important!

http://http://www.carwash.comwww.carwash.com

Lake City ReporterLake City Reporter Lovebug season is good for business. Lovebugs Lovebug season is good for business. Lovebugs

have actually been helping some local car-care have actually been helping some local car-care businesses.businesses.

Their guts have some kind of enzyme that eats Their guts have some kind of enzyme that eats through the clearcoat on an automobile. It burns through the clearcoat on an automobile. It burns almost like an acid burn in your paint job. You almost like an acid burn in your paint job. You can't scrape it off. You can't clean it off- it's can't scrape it off. You can't clean it off- it's permanent.permanent.

We're getting lovebugs off of vehicles all the time. We're getting lovebugs off of vehicles all the time. We hope that lovebugs stay around until We hope that lovebugs stay around until Christmas, it's good for my business.Christmas, it's good for my business.

How can you How can you prevent lovebugs prevent lovebugs from damaging from damaging your car?your car?

Lovebugs are not bugs but fliesLovebugs are not bugs but flies– Order Hemiptera- “True bugs”Order Hemiptera- “True bugs”– Order Diptera- “Flies”Order Diptera- “Flies”

• Family Bibionidae- March fliesFamily Bibionidae- March fliesLovebugs have other namesLovebugs have other names

– Plecia nearcticaPlecia nearctica Hardy Hardy – Honeymoon bugsHoneymoon bugs– Airline bugs Airline bugs – Two-headed bugsTwo-headed bugs– $@#%&@%$#$@#%&@%$# !!!!!!! !!!!!!!

What are lovebugs?What are lovebugs?

Male lovebug’s Male lovebug’s eyes 4x larger than eyes 4x larger than the female’s- help the female’s- help locate potential locate potential mates?mates?

Female lovebugs Female lovebugs larger than males- larger than males- deposit ca. 350 eggsdeposit ca. 350 eggs

Adult lovebugs Adult lovebugs live only 3- 4 dayslive only 3- 4 days

Lovebug Mating and DispersalLovebug Mating and Dispersal

Mating begins when females fly into a Mating begins when females fly into a swarm of males usually in the morningswarm of males usually in the morning

Larger males near the bottom of swarms Larger males near the bottom of swarms have greater mating successhave greater mating success

Up to 8 males compete for 1 femaleUp to 8 males compete for 1 femaleMating lasts up ca. 12 hrsMating lasts up ca. 12 hrsDispersal continues for a day or two (or until Dispersal continues for a day or two (or until

smashed by a vehicle!)smashed by a vehicle!)

Where do lovebug larvae live?Where do lovebug larvae live?

½ in

What do lovebug larvae do?What do lovebug larvae do?

Lovebug larvae require several Lovebug larvae require several months to develop into adultsmonths to develop into adults– Oct to April- Spring generationOct to April- Spring generation– May to September- Fall generationMay to September- Fall generation

Lovebug larvae are beneficialLovebug larvae are beneficial– Recycle decaying organic matterRecycle decaying organic matter– Large numbers found under cow Large numbers found under cow

manure manure

Lovebug LarvaeLovebug Larvae

NO! They are a part of nature, a NO! They are a part of nature, a nuisance but a minimal problem nuisance but a minimal problem compared with mosquitoes…compared with mosquitoes…

Can lovebugs hurt you?Can lovebugs hurt you?

How can I avoid How can I avoid lovebugs?lovebugs?

Will it help to spray pesticides to control Will it help to spray pesticides to control lovebugs?lovebugs?

How can I get rid of them?How can I get rid of them?Do they have any natural enemies?Do they have any natural enemies?Occur Apr-MayOccur Apr-May

& Aug-Sept.& Aug-Sept.

Lovebug Flight ActivityLovebug Flight Activity

Leppla et al. (1974)

Where did lovebugs come from?Where did lovebugs come from?

Lovebugs emigrated from Central Lovebugs emigrated from Central America into TexasAmerica into Texas

Lovebugs spread east along Gulf CoastLovebugs spread east along Gulf Coast

– Louisiana- 1920sLouisiana- 1920s

– Mississippi- 1940sMississippi- 1940s

– Alabama- 1940sAlabama- 1940s

– Florida - 1950 Florida - 1950

– South Carolina- 1975South Carolina- 1975

Distribution of LovebugsDistribution of Lovebugs

Map

UF researchers brought lovebugs into Florida and UF researchers brought lovebugs into Florida and

genetically engineered them to eat mosquitoes.genetically engineered them to eat mosquitoes. Lovebugs are mating the entire time they are coupled.Lovebugs are mating the entire time they are coupled. Bees do not visit flowers infested with lovebugs.Bees do not visit flowers infested with lovebugs. UF is conducting research to control lovebugs.UF is conducting research to control lovebugs. Lovebugs are attracted to light-colored objects. Lovebugs are attracted to light-colored objects. Lovebugs are attracted to cars and exhaust fumes.Lovebugs are attracted to cars and exhaust fumes. The body fluids of lovebugs are acidic.The body fluids of lovebugs are acidic.

Common Lovebug MythsCommon Lovebug Myths

http://ipm.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu

Information on LovebugsInformation on Lovebugs

UF/IFAS Featured Creatures article on lovebugs:UF/IFAS Featured Creatures article on lovebugs: http://creatures.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu

EDIS article on lovebugs:EDIS article on lovebugs: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.edu/MG068http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.edu/MG068

UF/IFAS extension information source:UF/IFAS extension information source: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.eduhttp://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu