Like clockwork Love Bugs have returned to menace drivers across Central Florida this September. Scientifically they are Plecia nearctica, small black flies with red thoraxes. Males are about 1/4 inch long, females are slightly bigger (1/3 inch).
These bugs are memebers of the family Bibionidae and are also known as March flies. Several species of March flies are native to Florida, however, Plecia nearctica are recent invaders from the west.
This is the second wave of invaders this year coupled with swarms of hungry mosquitoes carrying Zika Virus and Dengue. Meanwhile clueless politicians are deadlocked about what if anything to do about the invading insects. Ironically, Republicans are insisting on language in any Zika funding bill that would defund Planned Parenthood while Democrats are blocking any legislation that contains that language. Why is that ironic? Because pregnant womens' fetuses are at great risk from the virus carried by Florida's mosquitoes. Many countries in the Americas have suggested that women delay or end pregnancies rather than face the prospect of children born with microcephaly, the condition resultant from Zika Virus.
At this writing there is no spraying or any other insect control ongoing in Central Florida due to a lack of funds. Spraying in South Florida was temporarily suspended last week because of lawsuits complaining that the poisons were more toxic than the germs the insects were carrying. While that might be true in most cases, it is not a good time to be in Florida for anyone who is pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant because of the severe birth defects associated with Zika Virus.
Love Bugs, though resemblant of mosquitoes do not bite humans and are more nuisance than immediate harm. The worst damage a love bug will do to you is eat the paint off of your car after getting splattered thereon in its final act of annoyance. Love bugs are, however, indicative of mosquito populations as they travel in the same swarms and are both particularly bothersome in late summer, especially in the afternoons and evenings.
This is the second wave of invaders this year coupled with swarms of hungry mosquitoes carrying Zika Virus and Dengue. Meanwhile clueless politicians are deadlocked about what if anything to do about the invading insects. Ironically, Republicans are insisting on language in any Zika funding bill that would defund Planned Parenthood while Democrats are blocking any legislation that contains that language. Why is that ironic? Because pregnant womens' fetuses are at great risk from the virus carried by Florida's mosquitoes. Many countries in the Americas have suggested that women delay or end pregnancies rather than face the prospect of children born with microcephaly, the condition resultant from Zika Virus.
At this writing there is no spraying or any other insect control ongoing in Central Florida due to a lack of funds. Spraying in South Florida was temporarily suspended last week because of lawsuits complaining that the poisons were more toxic than the germs the insects were carrying. While that might be true in most cases, it is not a good time to be in Florida for anyone who is pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant because of the severe birth defects associated with Zika Virus.
Love Bugs, though resemblant of mosquitoes do not bite humans and are more nuisance than immediate harm. The worst damage a love bug will do to you is eat the paint off of your car after getting splattered thereon in its final act of annoyance. Love bugs are, however, indicative of mosquito populations as they travel in the same swarms and are both particularly bothersome in late summer, especially in the afternoons and evenings.
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In the evenings Love Bugs flock to goldenrod to overnight. If you have a stand of goldenrod check it out and you'll see how many bugs you might encounter by day.
While giving my car a good coat of wax to protect against the bugs this afternoon I was swarmed by thousands of the amorous bugs. They return every March and September to do untold damage to paint jobs across Florida.
Above: Male top, female attached, facing the opposite direction, bottom.
WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?
Southern Louisiana experienced flights of lovebugs during the 1920s. The species was described in scientific literature starting in 1940 from specimens collected in Mississippi. First reports of their presence in Florida were made in 1947 in Escambia County (Pensacola area). Subsequent reports indicate their presence in Leon County (Tallahassee area) in 1955-56 and Alachua - Marion Counties (Gainsville-Ocala area) in 1964-65. Since that time, flights have progressively moved southward. In 1974, specimens were collected in Homestead near the Florida Keys.
Love bugs also have moved northward and have been reported from Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina. Two flights of love bugs occur each year. 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.
LARVAE AID GROWING PLANTS
Female Love Bugs lay from 100 to 350 eggs which are deposited beneath decaying vegetation. Larvae (immature stage) feed on decaying plant material and live on the soil surface just beneath the decaying organic matter. Larvae perform a beneficial function by converting the plant material into organic components which can again be used by the growing plants. After larvae mature, they transform into pupae. The pupal stage requires about 7 to 10 days.
Adult Love Bugs are harmless in the natural environment and do not sting or bite. They will take the paint off of a car if not quickly removed -- after finding their demise thereon -- due to their slightly acidic body chemistry. Their body chemistry has a nearly neutral 6.5 pH but may become acidic (to 4.25pH) if left dead and drying on a car's hood. The females egg masses in particular result in pits and etches in automotive paint and chrome if not quickly removed.
Above and Below: Thousands of the flies swarming the lake house. Many hundreds found their way inside and will die there.
Love Bugs feed on the nectar of various plants, especially sweet clover, goldenrod and brazilian pepper. I've also noticed large numbers of the flies on Dotted Horsemint. Usually, Love Bug flights are restricted to daylight hours and temperatures above 68°F. (20° C.). At night lovebugs rest on low growing vegetation. As our current temperatures are always above 68°F. one can expect to encounter Love Bugs any time, though in theory they do not fly as well or often after dark.
The swarms have been reported flying at altitudes up to 1,480 feet (450 meters).
In recent years the August-September Love Bug flights have been substantially reduced across the central peninsula of Florida due to drought and predation. This year there has been just enough rain -- apparently -- to encourage a massive flight.
Larvae aggregate in extremely high numbers in pastures and other grassy habitats. This makes them vulnerable to foraging birds. Love Bug larvae have been found in the gizzards of robins and quail.
HOW TO AVOID LOVE BUG SPATTER ON YOUR CAR
By traveling at night motorists can avoid the bulk of the insects; Love Bugs reach peak activity at 10:00 am. Traveling at slower speeds reduces the number of bugs that will be spattered. A large screen placed in the front of the grill will keep the radiator fins from clogging, and will protect the finish on the front of the car. If a large screen is not used in front of the grill, at least place a small screen behind the grill in front of the radiator.
However, other bugs are active at night and will more than make up for the swarms of love bugs encountered by day. Insect swarms are especially prevalent around inland lakes and swamps through at least mid-October or until we receive our first cold front of the year which in recent years has been as late as Thanksgiving.
However, other bugs are active at night and will more than make up for the swarms of love bugs encountered by day. Insect swarms are especially prevalent around inland lakes and swamps through at least mid-October or until we receive our first cold front of the year which in recent years has been as late as Thanksgiving.
CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL
Spattered bugs should be washed off the car as soon as possible. Love Bugs are more easily removed, and the chance of damaging the car's finish is lessened, if the car has been recently waxed. When the remains of spattered bugs are left on an unwaxed car for several days, the finish will often be permanently damaged. Soaking for several minutes with water aids in their removal. When Love Bugs are numerous, some motorists spread a light film of baby oil over the front of the hood, above the windshield and on the grill and bumper. This practice will make their removal a simpler task.
Below: A comic strip by MacGregor.
URBAN LEGENDS
Urban legend holds that love bugs are synthetic—the result of a University of Florida genetics experiment gone wrong. This is the story I remember from my youth.
Research has shown that migration explained the introduction of the Love Bug into Florida and other southeastern states, contrary to the urban myth that the University of Florida created them by manipulating DNA to control mosquito populations.
Our Favorites from Rio:
Men's Sevens Rugby
Chris Wyles
6-foot, 205 pound Wyles (@ChrisWyles) made his Eagles debut at the 2007 Churchill Cup in Stockport, England, against England. Wyles has played with and captained the Eagles Sevens team as well. Currently, Wyles plays professionally for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership. He was pivotal in the 2014-15 squad starting at a variety of positions--full back, center and wing--during the season. The Saracens went on to win the Premiership Final defeating Bath by a score of 28-16. Wyles started at wing and played the entire 80 minutes.
Ed Jenkins
Sevens games last just 14 minutes, but play six of them in one weekend and with a significant chunk running at “high intensity” and you start to understand why sevens players have to be a mix of sprinter, middle-distance runner and muscular footy player.
Or to put it another way, why they have to look like 6'2", 210 pound (95 kg) Aussie captain Ed Jenkins.
It’s all fairly simple: with less people on the field, you have to do a lot more. Measured by GPS units, sevens players will run an average of 1.5km to 1.8km per game. Total distance on a weekend is similar to one 15s game but the big difference is how much is done at “high intensity” levels.
Sevens players clock up 8% of total distance at high intensity — double or triple the normal level of a 15s player in a game. Most sevens players will hit top speed (nearing 10 metres per second) several times, whereas 15s players often won’t hit it at all.
Jenkins can run 40 metres in under 5 seconds, putting him in the top bracket of Super Rugby speedsters.
Tom Mitchell
Named England captain in January 2014, the 26-year-old excelled in his first full series, in 2013-14, and was the top points scorer with 358 that campaign, some 98 points ahead of Fijian flyer Samisoni Viriviri. Struggled with injury last term, but when fit he is the beating heart of England – as evidenced by his inclusion in the dream team of the 2014-15 series.
Cameron Clark
The former Australian Schoolboy international – son of Greg, Fox Sports' main rugby commentator – turned 23 in March and the talented Auckland-born back has been a mainstay of the sevens side since making his debut in the 2012 tournament in Wellington.
Seabelo Senatla
One of three South Africans to make the dream team last year, alongside Kwagga Smith – who has struggled with injury and form so far this term – and Werner Kok. Was the leading try scorer.
Sonny Bill Williams
The 30-year-old multi-code mega-star has already represented New Zealand at rugby union, rugby union (and in 2015 won his second World Cup medal, before promptly giving it away to a lucky fan at Twickenham), and even boxing. The back, famed for his outrageous off-loads in the tackle, will make his sevens debut in Wellington and has set his sights on Olympic gold – more medals for his collection.
Osea Kolinisau
The Fijian captain will make history if he can inspire his country to win their first-ever Olympic medal later on this year, when sevens makes its bow. The 30-year-old is an all-round talent, and a livewire of a player. He made his debut in 2008, and scored the most points overall in the 2015-16 campaign, with 312, making him a shoo-in for a dream team berth.
Perry Baker
Ahead of round two, in Cape Town, the former American Football flier had amassed 34 tries in 10 tournaments, including six in Dubai, the opening event of the 2015-16 campaign. The USA winger is keeping out the fastest man in rugby, Carlin Isles, so 'speedstick' is certainly one to watch.
Madison Hughes
The former Wellington College schoolboy, who won the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens in 2011, is the current America captain, and the 23-year old led from the front last term. The scrum-half and goal kicker amassed 296 points – second only to Fijian captain Osea Kolinisau (312) – and has started the 2015-16 series in impressive form.
Rieko Ioane
A frighteningly talented player, and the younger brother of Māori All Blacks and fellow New Zealand Sevens player Akira Ioane. Burst on to the international scene in Wellington early in 2015, scoring six tries – including two in the final against England, which the hosts won. Not bad work for a 17-year old, as he was then.
Terry Bouhraoua
After the first two round of the 2015-16 campaign the French captain, 28, was joint-equal in the scoring charts, on 113 with Fijian Vatemo Ravouvou, having crossed for 11 tries. The diminutive scrum-half, 5' 5", has been part of the French sevens set up since 2010, after spells with Brive, Stade Francais and Beziers.
Savenaca Rawaca
Crossed for 42 tries last season – second only to Seabelo Senatla, the South African (47) – and after two rounds of their campaign gone has already managed 10. Was named in the dream team in 2014-15, and proving equally tricky to stop this series.
and a couple more to think about. . .
Above: far right,
Sacha Valleau
with Luis Nani after a recuperative cryotherapy according to Sacha's instagram page (@sachavalleau). Valleau is on the French squad according to the latest updates
but Nani is not. Maybe a an incomplete list online so far. Interesting about their reliance
on cryotherapy to ease aches, pains, and muscle strains. Read more about it on Valleau's instagram page
and below
Sofiane Buitoune
Buitoune is a callup to complete the French squad
according to France's wikipedia page on Rugby 7s.
Can't Miss:
with #AskTheGays Hashtag
Gays' Response to Donald Trump
and his Wildlife Killing Children
See the awful photos of what
the Trump sons do in their free time
at snopes.com
Photos show Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump posing with many kills from hunting trips.
Shameful!
And Below, the Gay's Response to The Donald
What we're reading:
The main areas where birds can live and breed will shrink by at least 50% by 2080.
Federal air marshal stabbed with syringe in Nigeria.
Edwin Chota murdered for trying to protect his country's natural resources: Old growth trees.
Taking the bump out of airline turbulence. Stronger computing power, improved satellite and radar technology and more sophisticated scientific weather models have all given airlines a more detailed understanding of flying conditions.
I guess it's true, 'cause I'm stone in love with you
What we're listening to:
I just can't get this 1972 tune out of my head by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics. . .
"Stone in Love With You". . . love those lyrics . . . dreaming my life away. . .
"Stone in Love With You". . . love those lyrics . . . dreaming my life away. . .
I'm just a man, an average man
Doing everything the best I can
But if I could, I'd give the world to you
I'd like to someday be the owner of the first house on the Moon
There would be no neighbors, and no population boom
You might say that all I do is dream my life away
I guess it's true, 'cause I'm stone in love with you
