The lovebug, Plecia nearctica Hardy, is a bibionid fly species that motorists may encounter as a serious nuisance when traveling in southern states. The lovebug population per year depends entirely on how much rainfall the area receives early spring; too much rain will wash away lovebug eggs, and little to no lovebugs may be seen that year.
Lovebugs are small black flies with a dull, somewhat velvety appearance, except that the top of the thoraxes (the area immediately behind the head) is red. Males are 1/4 inch (6-7 mm), and females are 1/3 inch (6-9mm) in length and vary considerably in size as males weigh 6 to 10 mg and females 15 to 25 mg.
←Back to Big Bend Bugs!
0