Love bugs at the beach? (mover, purchasing, live)

[Iamrita]

Live and learn---coming up on our first FL year... The LBugs are splattered all over our windshield and grill and everyone is sold out of Bug Guts (?) or Bug-B-Gone, the spray and stuff you add to your windshield wiper fluid. So we wash the cars and wait for them to go away. At least they don't sting or bite. They are annoying but less bothersome than the NJ state bird (the mosquito).

[Randy Forbes]

Yep, same pattern as when I lived in Southern Louisiana.

Yes, clean them off as soon as possible, as the acid in them will etch the paint and even pit the aluminum trim, well, on cars that still have polished grills anyway.

Tip for driving on the highway when they're in season: as much as I hate being held up by (big) trucks, find one of the "faster" moving ones and stay behind it until your exit comes up. You'll have waaay fewer bugs to clean off when you're staying behind "the shield."

I know they're ugly, but putting a black mesh screen across the front of your vehicle, except for the windshield, really does make short work of cleaning them off afterwards.

This is the voice (er, text) of experience.

[culturedmom]

Originally Posted by Randy Forbes

Yep, same pattern as when I lived in Southern Louisiana.

Yes, clean them off as soon as possible, as the acid in them will etch the paint and even pit the aluminum trim, well, on cars that still have polished grills anyway.

Tip for driving on the highway when they're in season: as much as I hate being held up by (big) trucks, find one of the "faster" moving ones and stay behind it until your exit comes up. You'll have waaay fewer bugs to clean off when you're staying behind "the shield."

I know they're ugly, but putting a black mesh screen across the front of your vehicle, except for the windshield, really does make short work of cleaning them off afterwards.

This is the voice (er, text) of experience.

I was about to come and post the samething. I drive Sarasota to Miami quite often and I just came back from a drive this Sat. Staying behind a truck or even a small trailer helped so much. They were no where to be found off Alligator Alley but the minute I passed the first Ft. Myers exit, they showed up in swarms. It would have been a lot worse had I not drove behind a trailer.

[coastal chic]

The love bugs seem to be here early this year. Normally, they're here toward the end of May---like on Memorial Day weekend when we're out on the boat for 3 days straight! I think with the mild winter and warm spring, they arrived ahead of schedule.

[nphomeowner]

Glad they got there early, hopefully they will be gone before I arrive!

[TamRE]

I think the love bugs are everywhere. Can't get away from them this time of year. I drove around 2 hours today and had to wash my car when I got home. Couldn't stand looking at the mess. They even get in the car when you open the door to get in or out. And I am finding them in my home. They come in when you open the house door. Just something we have to live with until they are gone. I know why they are called love bugs, but I sure don't love them. On the news they said to put baby oil on your car and they wipe right off. Not sure if I want to do that to my car though. Worried it would ruin the finish. Anybody else try that?

[nphomeowner]

Up North we have the lovely stink bugs that ruin the crops and just LOVE coming in the house.

[Randy Forbes]

Originally Posted by culturedmom

I was about to come and post the samething. I drive Sarasota to Miami quite often and I just came back from a drive this Sat. Staying behind a truck or even a small trailer helped so much. They were no where to be found off Alligator Alley but the minute I passed the first Ft. Myers exit, they showed up in swarms. It would have been a lot worse had I not drove behind a trailer.

Thanks for the endorsement!

Originally Posted by nphomeowner

Up North we have the lovely stink bugs that ruin the crops and just LOVE coming in the house.

Had those in Louisiana too. After smelling one, I just can't bring myself to eat a green Tumms tablet; they taste like what the stinkbug smells like!

[coastal chic]

Originally Posted by Randy Forbes

After smelling one, I just can't bring myself to eat a green Tumms tablet; they taste like what the stinkbug smells like!

Too funny! I can't eat maraschino cherries because they taste like what a palmetto bug smells like after being squashed.

[Iamrita]

So, to those of you who have lived in this area for several years, what are we looking at with the love bugs? Is the "Love Bug" season temperature dependent? How long will it last? Are some Love Bug "seasons" longer than others?