Get ready for Lovebugs Part 1 – April-May, followed by Part 2 in August-September. Lovebugs are not native to Florida. Researchers suspect they emigrated from Central America in the 1920s, and have since been helped by prevailing winds, vehicle traffic, sod transport and increased habitat along highways.
Adult lovebugs die after their late summer breeding season, but their young live on. New small larvae will emerge as adults after the spring equinox on March 20, 2020. Lovebugs are pollinators that do not bite or sting animals or humans. Flung against moving cars, or squashed on fabrics, their bodies can corrode the finish on vehicles and stain fabrics. It's recommended to clean them off regularly with dish soap on a soft scrubber, rinsed with water. Vacuum bodes from interior spaces to avoid stains.
Spraying with insecticides is not recommended, because lovebugs are widespread and insecticides would kill beneficial insects and work its way up the food chain.
Sources:
Florida Today - May 2019
Citrus County Chronicle - Sept 2019
Wikipedia
Photo from Wikipedia
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