The love bug (Plecia nearctica), also known as the honeymoon fly and the double-headed bug, is not actually a bug at all. It is actually a species of march fly and more closely related to biting midges and mosquitoes. These nuisance pests are found in parts of Central America and the Southeast United States, especially along the Gulf Coast.
Love bugs are small, about 1/4″ in length with black bodies and red heads. While it is very rare to see them in larval form, adult love bugs are very recognizable as they are almost always seen as a pair, with the male and female joined tail to tail. So why are the love bugs stuck together? The answer is simple. They are mating. Adult females will emerge and live 3 to 4 days, just long enough to mate before they die. Because of this, they must stick together at all time.
There are 2 major flights of love bugs during the year. The spring flight is usually from April to May and the summer flight is from August to September. Each flight lasts about 5 weeks.
While love bugs can be extremely annoying, especially if you are driving in the southern states, they are not capable of biting or stinging and pose no health threats to humans or other animals. They are also not known to transmit any diseases. They do cause other problems, however. Love bugs are attracted to the gas that is emitted from automobiles and will often congregate in large numbers near highways. This causes them to be killed in large numbers on car hoods, grills, and windshields. If left for too long, dead love bugs can cause damage to car paint, obstruct windshields, and even clog radiator passages and grills, causing mechanical issues and engines to overheat. These pests also thrive in humid environments so they can be found in basem*nts, attics, and storage rooms, and even on flowers or in flower beds with high moisture content.
While your best bet is to just let them run their course, there are a few ways you can eliminate love bugs or deter them from your car or home.
- Clean Your Car.Wash your car often with warm soapy water, especially if there are dead love bugs stuck to it. Wax your car prior to mating season to make it harder for them to stick to the exterior.
- Eliminate Standing Water. Inspect your home and yard for any areas of standing water and get rid of them. This will also help with mosquitoes. Monitor your home’s humidity levels, as well.
- Natural Repellents.You can try natural repellent sprays made from essential oils such as peppermint. to repel love bugs.
- Clean Up The Yard.Keep the grass mowed and shrubbery trimmed. Clear any debris from the yard, especially anything that can hold moisture.
- Vacuum.The best way to get rid of live love bugs that may be swarming around your home is to vacuum them up.
While love bugs don’t pose any significant threat to humans, they can be a nuisance. If you have an issue with love bugs or any other pest, contact a professional pest control company for assistance.
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FAQs
Lovebugs are often seen in pairs or "stuck" together because they're mating. An adult love bug only lives for three to four days, and those days are mostly filled with mating. Unfortunately, lovebugs are here to stay. May marks the mating season for the nuisance bugs, and it lasts four weeks.
Why do lovebugs stick together? ›
They are mating. Adult females will emerge and live 3 to 4 days, just long enough to mate before they die. Because of this, they must stick together at all time. There are 2 major flights of love bugs during the year.
How long does lovebug season last? ›
There are two major flights of lovebugs throughout the year: one in late spring from April to May, the other from August through September. The fall flight is the larger of the two. The size and population of lovebugs for the year is determined by the winter season.
How long do love bugs stay attached? ›
Female love bugs will fly up into swarms of male love bugs. When a lucky male unites with a female, their abdomens will stay attached for up to 2 days, although mating only lasts about 12 hours. The male then dies and is dragged around by the female.
Where do love bugs go after mating season? ›
After mating and laying eggs, adult lovebugs die within a few days or weeks. The eggs hatch into larvae that live in decaying plant material before pupating into adult insects themselves.
What purpose do lovebugs serve? ›
By feeding on partly decayed vegetation, lovebugs' larvae actually serve a beneficial purpose. Acting as nature's decomposers, the larvae help to recycle organic matter such as dead leaves and grass, particularly in moist habitats like bayous, swamps, and roadside ditches.
What attracts love bugs to humans? ›
Despite their endearing name, love bugs can be quite a nuisance. They are attracted to heat and the exhaust fumes of cars, often resulting in large numbers of these insects splattering on windshields and car grills.
What is the lifespan of a love bug? ›
Under laboratory conditions, male lovebugs live for about 92 hours, whereas females live up to 72 hours. In nature, the adults live just long enough to mate, feed, disperse and deposit a batch of eggs — about three to four days.
What kills love bugs? ›
Make a DIY love bug repellent by mixing 3 tablespoons of mouthwash and 3 tablespoons of citrus dish soap into 1 cup of water. Use a spray bottle to apply on plants, walls, and any other affected areas. Use fans to deter flying love bugs and a vacuum to physically remove them.
Why are there so many love bugs? ›
Since these humid areas have the potential to grow plants, it creates a food and environment for lovebugs to breed. If you live in an area where lovebugs are common, they can easily make their way into dark, humid areas such as basem*nts, attics, and storage rooms.
Lovebug swarms typically only happen during daylight hours and temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, they rest on plants.
What happens if you separate love bugs? ›
After the male and female separate, the female lays her eggs and dies. Plecia nearctica emerge between the months of March and December, with the largest groups emerging in May and September. After emerging, male lovebugs swarm around the nesting site waiting to mate with the females.
What happens when you get bit by a love bug? ›
cruzi parasite get inside your body, you'll develop an infection known as Chagas disease. Kissing bugs are nocturnal, which means they come out at night to feed. Kissing bugs usually bite people when they're sleeping. The bites don't hurt, and you may not even know you've been bitten.
What plant keeps love bugs away? ›
Lavender
While we humans love the relaxing scent of lavender, bugs don't care for it. In fact, they try their best to avoid it at all costs!
How many months do love bugs last? ›
An adult love bug only lives for three to four days, and those days are mostly filled with mating. Unfortunately, lovebugs are here to stay. May marks the mating season for the nuisance bugs, and it lasts four weeks. Then, they do it again in September.
What time of day are love bugs active? ›
Males will swarm in areas they know females will be near. The females then fly into these swarms, which are commonly seen in the morning (around 8:00 to 10:00 am) and the late afternoon/evening (around 4:00 to 5:00 pm).
What are the red bugs that stick to each other? ›
The name says it all–lovebugs are bugs that are usually paired together with a “mate.” They will attach their bodies to their mate and fly in tandem together. They have black bodies and red heads, and they are typically 6-9 millimeters in length. Although referred to as bugs, these insects are actually flies.
Does anything repel love bugs? ›
Make a DIY love bug repellent by mixing 3 tablespoons of mouthwash and 3 tablespoons of citrus dish soap into 1 cup of water. Use a spray bottle to apply on plants, walls, and any other affected areas. Use fans to deter flying love bugs and a vacuum to physically remove them.
What is the orange thing on love bugs? ›
Lovebugs, or Plecia neartica, are a species of fly with small black bodies and red or orange thoraxes. Pictured are three lovebugs perched on a white flower fueling up before they take off to mate or dispose of their eggs.
