posted 09-22-2000 01:01 PM                  

Lovebugs are a considerable nuisance to motorists. They congregate in unbelievable numbers along highways and the insects spatter on the windshields and grills of moving trucks and automobiles. Windshields become covered with the fatty remains, and vision is obscured. During flights, the flies clog radiator fins causing cars to overheat. They also get into refrigeration equipment on trucks causing them to malfunction. The fatty tissue will cause pitting of the car's finish if it is not removed within a few days. Flies enter cars and sometimes drivers and passengers soil their clothing by sitting on lovebugs. They are also a considerable nuisance to fresh paint. The flies enter houses under construction in such numbers that carpenters refuse to work. Beekeepers complain because worker bees do not visit flowers that have been infested with the flies.

The spring flight occurs during late April and May. A second flight occurs during late August and September. Flights extend over periods of 4 to 5 weeks. Mating takes place almost immediately after emergence of the females. Adult females live only 2-3 days.

If the dead insects are not cleaned off, they can ruin the car's finish.

posted 09-22-2000 01:34 PM                  

Ed - I've never been to Florida period! Guess I'm not going to either!

Gary - Thanks for the lesson on insects! Gross! But one question.......if they are such a pain in the @$$, why are they called "Love"bugs?

posted 09-22-2000 01:41 PM                  

I let them ride with on my car, but, I don't let them sleep with my car... When we get in at night we wash off the painted areas of cars, trucks whatever...

The bra helps tremendously to protect your paint... I use pledge on my bras. And, remarkably these pesty bugs don't stick to the bra. But, they will be splattered all over the side mirrors & windshield.... So, get a bra and use pledge.

I may my first trip with white enclosed trailer and it looked liked chocolate chip ice cream with lots of extra chips...

posted 09-22-2000 02:38 PM                  

Gee, I've never tried that!

posted 09-22-2000 03:27 PM                  

1. Don't go to La. unless you call Laddie first for a first hand bug report.

2. For a girl in your shoes, don't use pledge. Use Mopar Vinyl dressing, it will put a slick finish on the bra and do the same thing.

3. For bugs, I use RAIN-X on the windshield before the trip. It helps a lot.

posted 09-23-2000 09:30 PM                  

Not into beaches, heat, humidity, hurricanes or Lovebugs!! Give me the mountains!!

Roger: I'll follow that recommendation - I'm loyal to DC in every way!!!

FMITBTub - Have you rubbed the paint off your cat yet, with all that cleaning you have to do?

Hazen - Skill? Seems to me, they ought to be paying more attention to where they are going!