The University of Florida did not invent lovebugs. However, we know enough about them to dispel a couple rumors and share a few facts.
Rumor #1 – Lovebugs were developed by the University of Florida to eat mosquitoes.
Sometime after World War I, lovebugs migrated from Central America, made their way through Texas, and either flew or hitched a ride over to Florida. They are now found throughout the southeastern U.S. Lovebugs prefer to feed on dead vegetation. This also happens to be where they lay their eggs.
Rumor #2 – Lovebugs have no natural predators.
Lovebugs have plenty of predators. In addition to our cars, robins, quail, armadillos, beetles, and centipedes are all fond of eating lovebugs.
Rumor #3 – Lovebugs ruin car paint jobs.
Lovebugs are attracted to heat and engine exhaust, so naturally they get hit by cars. Some people believe lovebugs have a high acid content that causes paint deterioration when they hit cars. The paint damage is most likely caused by leaving their rotting carcasses on car surfaces for extended periods. When these dead lovebugs are mixed with microoganisms, sunlight, and heat then your paint is doomed. So make sure to frequently wash them off vehicles.
Lovebugs are certainly a nuisance, but they do serve some sort of purpose. For more information on these flies, technically they’re not even bugs, check out these links.
The Lovebug: Escaped Lab Experiment or Nature’s Harmless Decomposer?
3
