Lovebug Plague!

[EdFNJ]

It's like something from the bible here. Now I know how the Egyptians must have felt back when the Pharaoh wouldn't believe. I just walked into our lanai and the swarm of lovebugs all around outside is like a dark cloud. Thousands upon thousands, We've gone through 2 previous years with virtually none. They are getting even with us, Never seen anything like it. From all the reading I have been doing there seems to be no way to stop them or keep them away. Is there?

[Joeg180]

I saw this on Facebook Village Insider group, I haven’t tried it, but others are swearing by it:

Put water in a bright white bowl. Add a couple spoonfuls of baby oil and sit it outside.

They show a disgusting picture of the bowl full of the bugs after 30 minutes.

[dewilson58]

I saw this on Facebook Village Insider group, I haven’t tried it, but others are swearing by it:

Put water in a bright white bowl. Add a couple spoonfuls of baby oil and sit it outside.

They show a disgusting picture of the bowl full of the bugs after 30 minutes.




Check back into Facebook..........didn't work.

[My Post]

Article about it in USA Today this week:

Lovebugs are swarming Florida cars: Facts about the invasive bugs (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/05/07/lovebugs-swarming-florida-cars-facts-invasive-bugs/1126599001/)

[EdFNJ]

I have read they are attracted to the color WHITE from real sources. I can sort of vouch for that because where ever we park our all white car they seem to swarm. When we back out of the garage it's unbelievable. They seem to come out of nowhere and follow us until we are in the street with some speed. It's really gross. Best one I read was to spray your car with cooking oil so they slide off!

[Joeg180]

Check back into Facebook..........didn't work.
Two of the three responses are positive, the third state what lovebugs feed on.....

Haven’t seen any negative/failed comments?

[EdFNJ]

I saw this on Facebook Village Insider group, I haven’t tried it, but others are swearing by it:

Put water in a bright white bowl. Add a couple spoonfuls of baby oil and sit it outside.

They show a disgusting picture of the bowl full of the bugs after 30 minutes.


With zillions of them flying around our lanai & patio even if that worked it wouldn't make a dent. I tried videoing but they don't show because of our screen. It's remarkable how many there are. I "fog" them with some RAID so we can leave the house and the place is littered with F-Bug bodies. Used a leaf blower to blow 'em onto the grass. REALLY GROSS!

[vintageogauge]

I came out of Ace yesterday and my white car was covered with them, I couldn't get in the car without a few getting inside the car.

[Bjeanj]

Last week we drove back up from a visit to Miami. After unpacking, we took the car straight over to the car wash!

Yes, they’re terrible!

[EdFNJ]

I came out of Ace yesterday and my white car was covered with them, I couldn't get in the car without a few getting inside the car.
Our "go kit" includes a can of Raid, a white towel to fake surrender and swat them away and a bottle of dawn dish soap with water and a sponge to get them off the windshield. "They" say dawn is the best thing to remove their splattered remains from glass.

[dewilson58]

Two of the three responses are positive, the third state what lovebugs feed on.....

Haven’t seen any negative/failed comments?




Here are the responses:




https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p74x74/53265500_2226791737344002_472246643631063040_n.jpg ?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=1d137a49c5615ef81024e0182df68e24&oe=5D6FE84F (https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.donaghue)
Kathleen Donaghue (https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.donaghue) I tried the experiment on Monday, so far (1) bug has died.



1 (https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reaction/profile/browser/?ft_ent_identifier=ZmVlZGJhY2s6MjIwOTI1MTM3MjUyMTI 3NF8yMjA5NTAxODkyNDk2MjIy&av=1366321866)









Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/865011033611988/2209854255794319/?comment_id=2210821769030901&notif_id=1557407923140132&notif_t=group_comment_reply#)
· Reply (https://www.facebook.com/groups/865011033611988/2209854255794319/?comment_id=2210821769030901&notif_id=1557407923140132&notif_t=group_comment_reply#)
· 20h (https://www.facebook.com/groups/865011033611988/permalink/2209251372521274/?comment_id=2209501892496222&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D)






https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p74x74/49530551_10216614049957531_1865713521136762880_n.j pg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=72490f664f0514067a974a3a9afe65f0&oe=5D59D2F0 (https://www.facebook.com/Schilville)
Dawn Schilling (https://www.facebook.com/Schilville) I tried it last nite and it didnt work for me












Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/865011033611988/2209854255794319/?comment_id=2210821769030901&notif_id=1557407923140132&notif_t=group_comment_reply#)



· Reply (https://www.facebook.com/groups/865011033611988/2209854255794319/?comment_id=2210821769030901&notif_id=1557407923140132&notif_t=group_comment_reply#)
· 19h (https://www.facebook.com/groups/865011033611988/permalink/2209251372521274/?comment_id=2209548855824859&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D)






https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p74x74/57343519_2303925376295803_7585707299017064448_n.jp g?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=9c81c2cdf155fb3e3c6f141a13889132&oe=5D608D77 (https://www.facebook.com/eric.jansen.754)
Eric Jansen (https://www.facebook.com/eric.jansen.754)https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v3/yi/r/oJUaDQAiBQe.png (https://www.facebook.com/groups/865011033611988/badge_member_list/?badge_type=ADMIN) It wasn’t effective for us...three love bugs...

[Joeg180]

Well Dewilson58 those are on a different post on FB. Is that a post not the same page? If so haven’t seen it.

Can’t please everybody.


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[My Post]

FOX had a report that the idea was from U of Florida...

Hate love-bugs? A white bowl filled with baby oil and water could help - Story | WOFL (http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/local-news/hate-love-bugs-a-while-bowl-filled-with-baby-oil-and-water-could-help)

[salpal]

I have found a wet dryer sheet (like Bounce) helps remove them from my white car.

[Bogie Shooter]

This too shall pass...……………………….

[coffeebean]

Drove to Port Canaveral four days ago and the car was covered with those pesky Love Bugs and their awful remnants. Got back home today and will work on the mess tomorrow. I tested a spot on the windshield today by generously spraying Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover. I let is sit for 30 minutes. Everything wiped off with a paper towel with ease. That is how we plan to clean the car early tomorrow morning when it is cooler. Then, off to the car wash to make it sparkle.

[dewilson58]

I had to take my Bride to the airport. Prior to leaving, I sprayed Pledge on the front of the car. Got home and just hosed off the critters. Worked fairly well.




I think I heard about using Pledge on ToTV during the last Love Season.

[vintageogauge]

I use Bug's B Gone, it melts them away and you wash it off, been using it for years, best bug removed I've ever used.

[jblum315]

Isn’t that kind of like scooping sand out of the ocean. Thereareamillion new ivebugseerminute

[kcrazorbackfan]

I had to drive down to Winter Park and back yesterday afternoon and went straight to the car wash in Wildwood to clean that layer of goop off when I got back.

One of the news channels in Orlando had a small piece last week saying that the lovebug population was down; I don't know where, it's the worst I've seen in 3 years in Louisiana and 4 years here.

[EdFNJ]

FOX had a report that the idea was from U of Florida...

Hate love-bugs? A white bowl filled with baby oil and water could help - Story | WOFL (http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/local-news/hate-love-bugs-a-while-bowl-filled-with-baby-oil-and-water-could-help)

At the height of our plague this afternoon after reading one of these messages I put out the "while bowl with water and J&J Baby oil" right in the middle of the plague and all I found in it after an hour+ was a few leaves. HOWEVER I did find what I believe was the cause of this sudden F-Bug attack on our home. Our grill!

We have a pellet grill (aka smoker - which only really visibly "smokes" for the first 10 mins when set at high temps which it was) in which I was cooking a boatload of veggies for my wife and that is when it all started. There were so many it looked like it was pouring F-Bugs. In any case after the grill was shut off for about 20 minutes and cooled down they became just the usual annoying numbers. You really had to see "the swarm" to believe it. They were swarming the roof, around the lanai and on the patio. The major part of the swarm was not over the grill on the patio but on the opposite side of it where the lanai faces the street in front. No grilling tomorrow so I will see if they attack again. There were bodies strewn all over the patio from the Raid bomb.

[BobnBev]

There is a product called "REJEX". It's liquid and sold at ACE hardware I believe. A good coat on the car and windshield and they come off with a stream from the garden hose, just sayin.:ho:

[mtdjed]

Everyone seems to go to the car wash to remove lovebugs. I hose the car down and let it sit for 5 minute and then hose again and almost all are gone. A quick sponging of the hood , grill and windshield and job done.

This after my first experience collecting lovebugs on a trip to MCO for a flight to Italy for two weeks. Came back to love bug collection on car sitting for two weeks in sun. Had permanent imprint on car paint of little white specks where paint was etched off . That is thing to worry about. Don't collect lovebugs, park and fly. If you collect lovebugs WASH then park and fly.

[DeanFL]

Picture worth thousand...>

[pooh]

We were in Walt Disney World for 4 days and the lovebugs were the worst I’ve seen in the 13 years I’ve lived here. Felt badly for those who are unfamiliar with the flying critters, especially the little ones who initially reacted as we all might not knowing they’re relatively harmless...with screams. Pretty soon they’ll all be gone....till the next time...lol.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Blech I'm only going to be in TV for 7 days this trip. I really hope I don't have to spend most of it battling lovebugs on my lanai.

[Taltarzac725]

Blech I'm only going to be in TV for 7 days this trip. I really hope I don't have to spend most of it battling lovebugs on my lanai.

They often come right around this time every year and then in the Fall too. Lovebugs are swarming Florida cars: Facts about the invasive bugs (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/05/07/lovebugs-swarming-florida-cars-facts-invasive-bugs/1126599001/)

[DAVES]

Ice scrapers are hard to find in Florida.
Hint just like when you had forgotten, or broken your official ice scraper a credit card also works.

As to the radiator, you want to hose it off backwards-back to the front. Otherwise you are forcing the mess into the radiator.

Where are all the birds? Hiding from the love bugs? They are plentiful and two for the same effort. Do they not taste good?
????? CAN'T HELP IT-a sign love bugs BOGO. Special-the first one is free too.

[My Post]

We were in Walt Disney World for 4 days and the lovebugs were the worst I’ve seen in the 13 years I’ve lived here.

WOW that is disgusting.

[EdFNJ]

Picture worth thousand...>


Yikes. Never even thought about bikers especially the idiots who don’t wear helmets at 80mph. I guess the bugs are high in protein but low in calories. The damned wings must get caught between their teeth!



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[Velvet]

...

[coffeebean]

Not sure if I read it on here but one thing I tried after reading about it is Dawn dishwashing liquid. I cleaned the windshield with Dawn and water on paper towels and the dried mess just melted away as I wiped. The windshield was immaculate when I was done and only took a couple of minutes to clean it then a couple more minutes to rinse. I would have used the Dawn on the body of the car but thought it may be too harsh for the paint.

This morning I doused the car with Turtle Wax Bug and Tar remover and let it sit for 30 minutes. The stuff melted away and the car was a piece of cake to wipe down. Off to the car wash and our car is sparkling clean again.

[EdFNJ]

Not sure if I read it on here but one thing I tried after reading about it is Dawn dishwashing liquid. I cleaned the windshield with Dawn and water on paper towels and the dried mess just melted away as I wiped. The windshield was immaculate when I was done and only took a couple of minutes to clean it then a couple more minutes to rinse. I would have used the Dawn on the body of the car but thought it may be too harsh for the paint.

This morning I doused the car with Turtle Wax Bug and Tar remover and let it sit for 30 minutes. The stuff melted away and the car was a piece of cake to wipe down. Off to the car wash and our car is sparkling clean again.

They use dawn on baby ducks coated with oil so I doubt it would be any harsher on a car finish then PLEDGE. (start at 1:42) Dawn Saves Wildlife Episode 1: Duck, Duck, Oil - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0XvAdwFW8Q) it was all over the news after the big oil spill in the gulf years ago. Also check out post #10 in this thread re: dawn.

[aninjamom]

Those who have lived in Florida most of their life claim that WD40 is actually the best thing to keep love bugs from sticking to their car. The trick is to apply it before! I must admit that I have never tried it.

[Joeint]

They use dawn on baby ducks coated with oil so I doubt it would be any harsher on a car finish then PLEDGE. (start at 1:42) Dawn Saves Wildlife Episode 1: Duck, Duck, Oil - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0XvAdwFW8Q) it was all over the news after the big oil spill in the gulf years ago. Also check out post #10 in this thread re: dawn.



Dawn will strip the wax off your car.


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[Chi-Town]

We were in Walt Disney World for 4 days and the lovebugs were the worst I’ve seen in the 13 years I’ve lived here. Felt badly for those who are unfamiliar with the flying critters, especially the little ones who initially reacted as we all might not knowing they’re relatively harmless...with screams. Pretty soon they’ll all be gone....till the next time...lol.Believe it or not, they used to be worse.

Think lovebugs are bad now? They once caused safety crisis - News - The Ledger - Lakeland, FL (https://www.theledger.com/news/20190510/think-lovebugs-are-bad-now-they-once-caused-safety-crisis)

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[bilcon]

Turtle Wax Bug and Tar remover is pretty good. It also put a thin coat of wax. Next year wax your car before they come. It helps get them off easier. I saw the results of not cleaning them off in a Toyota used car lot. The paint jobs were ruined. It looked like their hoods was pelted with stones. Only solution was repaint. Get them off within 48 hours.

"I never made a mistake in my life. I thought I did once, but I was wrong."

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I'll be in TV on Thursday. Do y'all anticipate this to still be in full swing by then? Or mostly done? Or is it almost done already? I know once they start mating, they're more or less done within a couple of days. But I also know the whole process can take a week, two weeks, three weeks? in any given area.

Reason I'm asking: Should I prepare a spray bottle for my windshield to prepare for my drive down from New England. The car itself I can always wash when I get there but it'd be really helpful to know if I will need a "bug kit" just in case a swarm happens by while I'm driving up Morse.

[jerseyvillager]

Your exposure to love bugs in The Villages is so minimum that it is laughable. Other areas of Florida, primarily Brevard County, have these pests in numbers that you would not believe. Entire walls of condos will be totally black. I would guess we have about 1% of the volume here that residents experience over in Melbourne and surrounding areas. Fortunately, they only last a few weeks and don't bite.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Your exposure to love bugs in The Villages is so minimum that it is laughable. Other areas of Florida, primarily Brevard County, have these pests in numbers that you would not believe. Entire walls of condos will be totally black. I would guess we have about 1% of the volume here that residents experience over in Melbourne and surrounding areas. Fortunately, they only last a few weeks and don't bite.

I don't care if they bite or not, and their percentage of volume is meaningless. What I want to know is if there's a likelihood that I'll encounter a swarm, next week, or is the worst of it (however bad or not-so-bad it might be) over?

I experienced it in September when we were on our Lifestyle Visit. Our car wasn't affected at all down in the Brownwood area. But we looked at house up on Schwartz that was infested and the lovebugs had gotten onto the glassed-in lanai and into the kitchen. If we had been living in that house, I'm sure I would've needed to keep the car washed and the windshield sprayed regularly til it was over.

So is it over, or isn't it?

[CFrance]

I don't think anyone can give a definitive answer to your question, Jazuela. It will be over when it's over, and it will come back in the fall, but who knows when and how heavy it will be. The last two years were slight. It's just something to live through, like the May flies in Michigan.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

It seemed like a pretty basic, simple, easy to answer question to me. If the swarms have mostly died down and are just a trickle now, then it's "mostly over already." If they're still in full force, they're "not mostly over yet." If they were at their worst and only in the past day or so started getting lighter, then they're "just starting to die off now." If they just started getting worse then they're "getting worse."

Am I not explaining my question right?

[jerseyvillager]

Drove to Marion Market this afternoon. Returned with NO bugs on my windshield. I'd say they have said goodbye until the Fall.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Drove to Marion Market this afternoon. Returned with NO bugs on my windshield. I'd say they have said goodbye until the Fall.

Thanks, that's pretty much the nature of an answer I was looking for. So even if they move slowly northward, they should be "not a problem at all" by Thursday.

Glad I have a broom ready to brush whatever landed on the driveway and porch!

[vintageogauge]

Drove to Marion Market this afternoon. Returned with NO bugs on my windshield. I'd say they have said goodbye until the Fall.

Drove to Leesburg this evening and the car was so bad that I had to wash the entire front end and windshield to get them off, there were swarms of them all along 470.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Drove to Leesburg this evening and the car was so bad that I had to wash the entire front end and windshield to get them off, there were swarms of them all along 470.

Blech. I'll have that soapy water in a spray bottle in the car then. Just in case.

[EdFNJ]

Drove to Marion Market this afternoon. Returned with NO bugs on my windshield. I'd say they have said goodbye until the Fall.Was parked at LSL around 4:30PM and there were dozens on my white vehicle and MANY crawling around the window frames at Starbucks and Van Heusen. Still a lot hanging around our garage. Less than before but hopefully getting better. Some seemed to have gotten divorced.

[EdFNJ]

I don't think anyone can give a definitive answer to your question, Jazuela. It will be over when it's over, and it will come back in the fall, but who knows when and how heavy it will be. The last two years were slight. It's just something to live through, like the May flies in Michigan. When do you get May flies in Michigan? :jester:

[EdFNJ]

So even if they move slowly northward, they should be "not a problem at all" by Thursday.
Don't count on that. Bring a bug remover brush, roll of paper towels, and a big bottle of DILUTED DAWN for your WINDSHIELD (which has no wax). On a trip that long this time of the year I wouldn't take a chance. The ones I saw were still mostly "hooked up". When you see them smiling you know it's over.

[CFrance]

Blech. I'll have that soapy water in a spray bottle in the car then. Just in case.
So one person drove one place and no love bugs. Another drove another place and got tons of them. Perhaps you can see why your question is so hard to answer, and any sarcasm unnecessary.

[Bay Kid]

RainX those windshields and wax the front end. It will help make removal easier.

[sbjaly]

I spray Home Defense around my entire house, and I spray the screen itself as well. I am not getting love bugs where I've sprayed. Some one also told me they ordered a chemical that is like an oil that you spray on your car, and they clean off very easily. Good luck!

[davem4616]

I've heard that applying cooking spray in advance of the 'LB Season' to the front of your auto makes it easier to remove the splattered bugs on the front of the car, but haven't tried it yet. WD 40 was pretty effective in removing the dead ones....but it might be a good idea to rinse the area off afterwards with some H2O

[SERENITY52]

It's like something from the bible here. Now I know how the Egyptians must have felt back when the Pharaoh wouldn't believe. I just walked into our lanai and the swarm of lovebugs all around outside is like a dark cloud. Thousands upon thousands, We've gone through 2 previous years with virtually none. They are getting even with us, Never seen anything like it. From all the reading I have been doing there seems to be no way to stop them or keep them away. Is there?

Baby oil in a white bowl

[Marshabk]

We didn't have any in the 60's. I was told they came from Africa on the wind in the 70's moving north. Not a thing we can do - Just keep your car clean - the acid in their bodies ruins the paint. Once May is over they'll be gone until Oct.

[vitacr]

A wet dryer sheet helps to get them off your car. Get them off asap as they will eat your paint & clear coat.

[OhioBuckeye]

Drove to Port Canaveral four days ago and the car was covered with those pesky Love Bugs and their awful remnants. Got back home today and will work on the mess tomorrow. I tested a spot on the windshield today by generously spraying Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover. I let is sit for 30 minutes. Everything wiped off with a paper towel with ease. That is how we plan to clean the car early tomorrow morning when it is cooler. Then, off to the car wash to make it sparkle.

Yes, that does work but until these pesky bugs leave or whatever they do, you'll be back doing what you did to clean your car. You're right it does work!

[crabbymaj]

tried it, didn't work for us either.

[robertdhock]

Try wetting a dryer sheet and wiping them off. . . works well!

[coffeebean]

Not sure if I said it here already but Dawn dish washing liquid with water on a paper towel works GREAT. It melts the white splatter as you rub. No need to let it sit on the windshield or side windows ....just wash and it all comes off so easily. I didn't want to use that on the car paint, though.....not sure if it would ruin the top coat.

[EdFNJ]

Baby oil in a white bowl As I posted earlier in this thread been there, done that. Internet lore. Just because it's "on the internet" (or Facebook) doesn't always make it true. It does work to keep away the elephants for sure though because when I put out my J&J and H2O I didn't see one elephant in my yard. Lot's of Lovebugs but not one elephant. ;)

[HogPilot]

WD-40 was mentioned as a preventative before driving, I've used silicone spray on the paint surface too.

A solution of baking soda and water sprayed or applied by sponge, let sit for a little while. The solution breaks down the bugs and are easier to clean.

[Shimpy]

Those who have lived in Florida most of their life claim that WD40 is actually the best thing to keep love bugs from sticking to their car. The trick is to apply it before! I must admit that I have never tried it.

I've tried it and the bugs come off a little easier but the WD40 also picks up any dirt and sand that comes up off the road.
The best product I've ever used and many motorcyclist use is to spray them with full strength hydrogen peroxide which is only 3%.
Soak them pretty good and watch it fizz. Let them soak for several minutes then they wash off easier. No, it doesn't harm the paint at all.
The big thing though is not to let them sit and bake on the finish too long or nothing makes it easy to remove them.