Living with Lovebugs in Florida Norm Leppla UF/IFAS.
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Transcript of Living with Lovebugs in Florida Norm Leppla UF/IFAS.
Living with Living with Lovebugs in FloridaLovebugs in Florida
Norm LepplaNorm Leppla
UF/IFASUF/IFAS
Named Species Named Species of Animals of Animals
Insect OrdersInsect Orders
Types of FliesTypes of Flies
Pest InsectsPest Insects
Lovebugs are Pests! Lovebugs are Pests!
We're getting lovebugs off of vehicles all the time. We hope that lovebugs stay around until Christmas, it's good for my business. (Lake City Reporter)
Male lovebug’s eyes 4x larger than female’s- help locate mates?
Female lovebugs Female lovebugs larger than larger than males- deposit ca. males- deposit ca. 350 eggs350 eggs
Adult lovebugs Adult lovebugs live only 3-4 live only 3-4 daysdays
Lovebug larvae require several Lovebug larvae require several months to develop into adults.months to develop into adults.
Lovebug Life Lovebug Life CycleCycle
Spring GenerationOctober-April
Fall GenerationMay-September
Lovebug larvae are beneficial.Lovebug larvae are beneficial.– Recycle decaying organic matterRecycle decaying organic matter– Large numbers found under cow manure Large numbers found under cow manure
Lovebug LarvaeLovebug Larvae
Lovebug Larval Lovebug Larval HabitatHabitat
Adult LovebugsAdult LovebugsPaynes Prairie Paynes Prairie
Lovebug Flight ActivityLovebug Flight Activity
Leppla et al. (1974)
Lovebug Mating and Lovebug Mating and DispersalDispersal
Mating begins when females fly into a Mating begins when females fly into a swarm of males, usually in the morning.swarm of males, usually in the morning.
Males compete for each female that Males compete for each female that emerges.emerges.
Larger males near the bottom of a Larger males near the bottom of a swarm have greater mating success.swarm have greater mating success.
Mating lasts up to about 12 hours.Mating lasts up to about 12 hours.Dispersal continues for a day or two (or Dispersal continues for a day or two (or
until smashed by a vehicle!).until smashed by a vehicle!).
Lovebug MythsLovebug MythsUF researchers brought lovebugs into Florida and genetically engineered them to eat mosquitoes.
Lovebug MythsLovebug Myths
Phytophagous
Entomophagous
Lovebug MythsLovebug MythsLovebugs are attracted to Lovebugs are attracted to
vehicles and exhaust fumes.vehicles and exhaust fumes.
Their guts have some kind of enzyme that Their guts have some kind of enzyme that eats through the clearcoat on an automobile. eats through the clearcoat on an automobile. It burns almost like an acid burn in your It burns almost like an acid burn in your paint job. You can't scrape it off. You can't paint job. You can't scrape it off. You can't clean it off- it's permanent. (Lake City clean it off- it's permanent. (Lake City Reporter)Reporter)
Lovebug MythsLovebug Myths
Lovebug MythsLovebug MythsLovebugs fly around in copula.Lovebugs fly around in copula.
Lovebug MythsLovebug Myths
Sperm transferSperm transfer
Lovebug MythsLovebug MythsUF is conducting research to UF is conducting research to control lovebugs.control lovebugs.
http://http://ipm.ifas.ufl.eduipm.ifas.ufl.edu
What To Do About What To Do About Lovebugs?Lovebugs?
Will it help to spray pesticides to Will it help to spray pesticides to control lovebugs?control lovebugs?
Do they have any natural Do they have any natural enemies?enemies?
Do repellents work?Do repellents work?How can I avoidHow can I avoid
lovebugs?lovebugs?Swarms occurSwarms occur
April-MayApril-May
& August-Sept.& August-Sept.
Information on Information on LovebugsLovebugs
UF/IFAS Featured Creatures article on lovebugs: UF/IFAS Featured Creatures article on lovebugs: http://creatures.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu
EDIS article on lovebugs: EDIS article on lovebugs: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.edu/MG068http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.edu/MG068
UF/IFAS extension information source: UF/IFAS extension information source: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.eduhttp://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu