Living with Living with Lovebugs in FloridaLovebugs in Florida

Norm LepplaNorm Leppla

UF/IFASUF/IFAS

Named Species Named Species of Animals of Animals

Insect OrdersInsect Orders

Types of FliesTypes of Flies

Pest InsectsPest Insects

Lovebugs are Pests! Lovebugs are Pests!

We're getting lovebugs off of vehicles all the time. We hope that lovebugs stay around until Christmas, it's good for my business. (Lake City Reporter)

Male lovebug’s eyes 4x larger than female’s- help locate mates?

Female lovebugs Female lovebugs larger than larger than males- deposit ca. males- deposit ca. 350 eggs350 eggs

Adult lovebugs Adult lovebugs live only 3-4 live only 3-4 daysdays

Lovebug larvae require several Lovebug larvae require several months to develop into adults.months to develop into adults.

Lovebug Life Lovebug Life CycleCycle

Spring GenerationOctober-April

Fall GenerationMay-September

Lovebug larvae are beneficial.Lovebug larvae are beneficial.– Recycle decaying organic matterRecycle decaying organic matter– Large numbers found under cow manure Large numbers found under cow manure

Lovebug LarvaeLovebug Larvae

Lovebug Larval Lovebug Larval HabitatHabitat

Adult LovebugsAdult LovebugsPaynes Prairie Paynes Prairie

Lovebug Flight ActivityLovebug Flight Activity

Leppla et al. (1974)

Lovebug Mating and Lovebug Mating and DispersalDispersal

Mating begins when females fly into a Mating begins when females fly into a swarm of males, usually in the morning.swarm of males, usually in the morning.

Males compete for each female that Males compete for each female that emerges.emerges.

Larger males near the bottom of a Larger males near the bottom of a swarm have greater mating success.swarm have greater mating success.

Mating lasts up to about 12 hours.Mating lasts up to about 12 hours.Dispersal continues for a day or two (or Dispersal continues for a day or two (or

until smashed by a vehicle!).until smashed by a vehicle!).

Lovebug MythsLovebug MythsUF researchers brought lovebugs into Florida and genetically engineered them to eat mosquitoes.

Lovebug MythsLovebug Myths

Phytophagous

Entomophagous

Lovebug MythsLovebug MythsLovebugs are attracted to Lovebugs are attracted to

vehicles and exhaust fumes.vehicles and exhaust fumes.

Their guts have some kind of enzyme that Their guts have some kind of enzyme that eats through the clearcoat on an automobile. eats through the clearcoat on an automobile. It burns almost like an acid burn in your It burns almost like an acid burn in your paint job. You can't scrape it off. You can't paint job. You can't scrape it off. You can't clean it off- it's permanent. (Lake City clean it off- it's permanent. (Lake City Reporter)Reporter)

Lovebug MythsLovebug Myths

Lovebug MythsLovebug MythsLovebugs fly around in copula.Lovebugs fly around in copula.

Lovebug MythsLovebug Myths

Sperm transferSperm transfer

Lovebug MythsLovebug MythsUF is conducting research to UF is conducting research to control lovebugs.control lovebugs.

http://http://ipm.ifas.ufl.eduipm.ifas.ufl.edu

What To Do About What To Do About Lovebugs?Lovebugs?

Will it help to spray pesticides to Will it help to spray pesticides to control lovebugs?control lovebugs?

Do they have any natural Do they have any natural enemies?enemies?

Do repellents work?Do repellents work?How can I avoidHow can I avoid

lovebugs?lovebugs?Swarms occurSwarms occur

April-MayApril-May

& August-Sept.& August-Sept.

Information on Information on LovebugsLovebugs

UF/IFAS Featured Creatures article on lovebugs: UF/IFAS Featured Creatures article on lovebugs: http://creatures.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu

EDIS article on lovebugs: EDIS article on lovebugs: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.edu/MG068http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.edu/MG068

UF/IFAS extension information source: UF/IFAS extension information source: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.eduhttp://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu