Southwest Florida is once again facing the annual invasion of love bugs, those tiny creatures that have become notorious for making a mess of windshields and car paint. As they emerge during their breeding season, they swarm vehicles as if they’re looking for their next partner. One resident, Derek Underwood, shared his experience of dealing with the aftermath, noting that a clean car practically screams, “Come and mess me up!”
Dr. Joyce Fassbender, a knowledgeable entomologist from Florida Gulf Coast University, explains that love bugs are attracted to car exhaust. They confuse it for swampy ground, where they typically lay their eggs. The critters live a brief existence of only about five days, with most of their time spent tethered to a partner in search of love.
Fortunately, while they may be a nuisance, love bugs are completely harmless. They don’t bite or spread disease, and their season is just a brief chapter in the Florida story, lasting about a month before they disappear until fall. So, it’s best to embrace the love bug madness with a sense of humor while washing your car a bit more often!