If you've ever travelled through Florida during the months of May or September, you will understand why I am writing this post today. Since the first week of May, we have been inundated with these very unlovely lovers, better known as "Lovebugs". We have been so overwhelmed with these creatures that I thought I'd better do some research and find out why they seem to be especially attracted to our new home in the forest. I have attached a pretty thorough dissertation below that gives all the scientific information, and even dispels a few myths about their connection with the University of Florida (which I had heard previously and was tending to believe...)
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| These Lovebugs love to love on my daylilies... |
In reading this article I realized that we were inadvertently right smack dab in the middle of their favorite kind of love-nest...a sandy, hot, forest with lots of decaying vegetation and trees with pollen. Our house is also a light color, which they are very attracted to, as well as anything recently painted, perhaps treated with Thompson's Waterseal...like this picnic table.
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| They love to love on my picnic table and all over my patio and the plastic base of our patio umbrella...  mouth, you may even end up swallowing some lovely lovebug lovers. Yech!!! They taste so bad, not even the birds will eat them... |
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| Looks like they are having quite a party here in my holly trees! By the way, did you know that if you click on a photo you can get a close-up view? It sort of brings these critters up close and personal! |
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| These wild holly trees are their favorite spot to spend the day with their mate...right out in plain view of my patio! They have no shame whatsoever! |
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| It's a good thing we have a church right here handy for the ones who want to do things right and get married first!!! It also serves as a good place for the ones who have come to the end of their life of love-making...and just drop dead from exhaustion! |
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| I get to clean up this mess when their frenzied season of love is finally over ...until September, that is...  |
Of course, maybe that kind of death is better than the way most of them end up...
On the front bumper and windshield of the millions of cars driving through Florida
during the months of May and September...
You may want to keep this in mind before you plan your next trip to the "Sunshine State"
Try to avoid coming during lovebug season! You'll be glad I warned you!
About the only good thing I can say about lovebugs is that they don't bite.
I hope you enjoyed this lovely little story.
"See You in September"
The End
For now.
Well, Pamela, this almost makes living up here in Canada with our mosquitoes sound like a dream!
ReplyDeleteMind you, when the mosquitoes are out, human must be in. They bite, and it hurts.
Thanks for this!
Hugs,
Mart
Thank you Mary...Unfortunately, here in Florida we also have mosquitoes, deerflies, horseflies, wasps, bees,gnats,and myriads of other pesky insects. Thankfully, most of them disappear in the fall and winter and don't come back to "bug" us until late spring. Fall and winter and early spring is the best time to come visit! Do you have "black flies"? I know they have those in New England in June-July...and they bite and itch. We don't have those in Florida. Anyway, anytime you want to come visit, we'd love to have you. We have "Off" insect spray for all the bugs! LOL!
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