Lovebugs are black flies with a bright orange spot near their heads. They’re referred to as lovebugs because they’re often seen flying in mating pairs. After periods of the year that experience heavy rainfall, they come out in droves. They’re relatively new to Florida, migrating northward in recent decades and becoming more and more of a problem.
Lovebugs in Florida are especially bad, swarming anything and everything in their way – houses, cars, even people and pets. What can we learn about them, and how can this help us to get rid of lovebugs?
Florida Lovebugs
When we say they come out after heavy rains, we mean it. That means the worst season for Florida lovebugs is right now: September and October. An individual female lovebug can lay between 100-300 eggs. They love decaying organic matter and areas with stagnant water.
Do Lovebugs Bite?
Lovebugs don’t bite. In fact, they’re not particularly dangerous in conventional ways. They get creative. When lovebugs come out in Florida, they come out in swarms. They’re so numerous and concentrated that they can actually clog car radiators as you drive through them. If they swarm your home, you won’t be able to step out the door without getting them in your hair, clothing, and mouth. Some pets will try to eat them and if not stopped can get sick simply due to the sheer amount available.
How to Get Rid of Lovebugs
Lovebugs in Florida can be quite a nuisance if not addressed, especially if you have standing water or other moist areas where they’ll develop even more larvae. Lovebugs are a challenge because there really is not an effective way of getting rid of them. Instead, we aim for a more top-down approach, by creating an environment in ways that does not appeal to them. It’s a more targeted approach for getting rid of lovebugs and it works very well.