Tips for Surviving Lovebug Season with Your Sanity: First Person
I can still recall the first year that my husband and I spent living in Southeast Georgia. We arrived in March and the weather was amazing. I remember thinking how wonderful it was to live in such a place. Then May rolled around and I was introduced, en mass, to what I like to call the “Scourge of the Peach State.” Other folks call them lovebugs. However, I can assure you that there is nothing “lovey dovey” about them, unless of course you’re a hungry robin. Since that time, I’ve learned how to work around their twice yearly swarms. With that said, here are a few suggestions:
Remove Nesting Materials
I have found that removing the creature’s favorite nesting materials (i.e. decaying ground cover) in early spring is helpful. That way, they are less likely to take up residence on your property in the first place. Of course it won’t make them disappear entirely. Personally, I don’t know of anything that will accomplish that feat. Depending on the weather and your community’s regulations, the materials may be burned or transported to another location. Over the years, my family and I have made use of both options.
Welcome Birds
As I alluded to earlier, some birds look at the lovebug’s seasonal ritual as a two for one buffet. Thus, I have found that making one’s property bird friendly helps to control the lovebug population too. Items to consider adding to your property in that regard include suitable housing, bird baths and feeders. However, just keep in mind that it may take some time before the birds in your area decide to accept your offerings.
Heavy Wax and Rain-X
Once you’ve cleaned the yard and welcomed the birds, I’d suggest turning your attention towards the family car. Make sure that you wash it and apply a heavy coat of wax. It will help make the inevitable bug splatter come off a lot easier. I’d also suggest applying a coat of Rain-X 2-in-1 to your car and home’s windows. It will do the same for them. Some folks also apply oil, assorted guards and other items to their vehicles too. I am not one of them. I avoid using the oil because my area is also plagued by high pollen counts. Thus, I would only end up with a mess on my hands. I solve the problem another way, which brings me to my next tip.
Timing
In my neighborhood, the lovebugs are inherently worse right before lunchtime, especially on high UV days. Therefore, I make sure to get my outside work done either before 10 a.m. or after the sun goes down. That way, I am able to avoid a good number of them. If those hours don’t work for you, you may want to hope for an overcast day. In my experience, they tend not to be as active on those days as well. Should you absolutely have to drive during a swarm, stocking up on bug pre-wash products is a great idea. Doing so will make the resulting, daily clean up go a lot smoother.
Source: Personal Experience
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