Lovebugs. What are they, do they serve a purpose and how do we get rid of them? Known as the honeymoon or double-headed fly, Lovebugs are part of the fly family. That makes sense because they sure are irritating and boy do they leave a mess on your vehicle. They reportedly were first discovered in America in the 1940s and presumably traveled from Central America on cargo ships that docked in New Orleans. Their populations grew and soon spread across most of the Gulf states including Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida

Scientists believe hurricanes contributed to the U.S. lovebug migration and have discovered that the more the hurricane season the bigger the lovebug population will be. Speaking of which, these annoying insects have a life cycle of four to five weeks.  They get their name from latching onto one another to mate. After three to five days the male dies, then the female after she lays eggs. Then that process repeats a zillion times a day just to make our lives miserable.

What is their purpose?

Lovebugs eat nectar and pollinate plants for starters. Their larvae are in and on soil and feed on decaying plants, making them beneficial in helping to decompose dead plant material. The dead vegetation then converts into humus, the dark, organic and nutritious matter that improves the health of the soil.

There are two major Lovebug seasons a year: one from April to May, the other from August through September. How do we get rid of them? When they are not in season basically. You could try the Lovebug Spray. I found this on Facebook Via Pinterest. Spoiler alert...based on the comments don't hold your breath. It probably doesn't work. You may find better luck on how to help your car paint and grill survive the season in the video below. Other than that, unfortunately, we are all just gonna have to deal with these weird flying, creepy-crawling bugs till their season is over.

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