Page 157 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

LOVE BUG ON FLOWER LOVE BUG DAMAGE

Photo Courtesy of Chris Evans Photo Courtesy of H.A.(Joe) Pase III
www.forestryimages.org Texas Forest Service
1.Antenna- 2, with many segments 6.Thorax-black with red on top
2.Eyes- compound 7.Petiole- none LOVE BUG
3.Head- small 8.Abdomen- elongated
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- black overall
5.Wings- longer than abdomen 10.Other- swarms in large numbers 1 3

Life Cycle
After the elaborate and sometimes prolonged mating process, females lay hundreds
of eggs around three days later, and then die. The male dies immediately after the 2 8
mating. Eggs are laid in a moist grass or weed area under decaying vegetation. The 4
larvae that hatch move short distances to find organic matter to eat until they pupate.
The pupal stage lasts around a week, but the new adults only live a few days—just
enough to mate and lay eggs so that the next generation begins. There are two
generations each year. Drawing by Andrew Schaible

LOVE BUGS
Actual size 1/3”
The Lovebug is considered Florida’s most annoying pest, especially for drivers. It first
entered the U.S. in Texas in 1940, and by 1949 had reached Florida. They are very seasonal,
swarming for two weeks in both May and September. Otherwise, it is found in smaller
numbers most of the rest of the year.

People believe that Lovebugs are attracted to the highways, and it is somewhat the truth.
Females are drawn to engine exhaust fumes, and engine heat and vibrations also seem to
stimulate Lovebugs. Vehicles that drive through the swarms will be covered with bug splatter
all over the windshield and hood areas. They can be a visibility hazard, and if the bugs are not
removed within 24 hours, the acids from the body will do paint damage, etching into the paint.
Large numbers can also clog radiators and cause engines to overheat.

Lovebugs are also temperature and light sensitive, and peak swarms occur between 8-10 AM
and 4 or 5-8 PM each day. The slightly smaller males hover from 1-3 feet above ground level,
waiting for females to crawl up plants and take flight. The female is grabbed either on the plant
or in flight. The pair then falls back to the ground to copulate for the next twelve hours or so,
and may remain joined for a few days. There are many males competing for the few females,
and they will even attempt to dislodge the currently successful male.

Despite the problems with Lovebugs, they do serve a purpose in that they eat decaying
organic matter. They are found naturally in damp humus, leaf debris, and cow pastures around
the manure. Fans can be used to blow them away from small areas, and screens placed
upwind on decks can lessen the numbers that get into pools. They are relatively poor flyers.

157