1. Living with Lovebugs in Florida Norm Leppla UF/IFAS

2. Named Species of Animals

3. Insect Orders

4. Types of Flies

5. Pest Insects

6. 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)

7. Male lovebug’s eyes 4x larger than female’s- help locate mates? Female lovebugs larger than males- deposit ca. 350 eggs Adult lovebugs live only 3-4 days

8. Lovebug larvae require several months to develop into adults. Lovebug Life Cycle Spring Generation October-April Fall Generation May-September

9. Lovebug larvae are beneficial. –Recycle decaying organic matter –Large numbers found under cow manure Lovebug Larvae

10. Lovebug Larval Habitat

11. Adult Lovebugs Paynes Prairie

12. Lovebug Flight Activity Leppla et al. (1974)

13. Lovebug Mating and Dispersal Mating begins when females fly into a swarm of males, usually in the morning. Mating begins when females fly into a swarm of males, usually in the morning. Males compete for each female that emerges. Males compete for each female that emerges. Larger males near the bottom of a swarm have greater mating success. Larger males near the bottom of a 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 until smashed by a vehicle!). Dispersal continues for a day or two (or until smashed by a vehicle!).

14. Lovebug Myths UF researchers brought lovebugs into Florida and genetically engineered them to eat mosquitoes.

15. Lovebug Myths PhytophagousEntomophagous

16. Lovebug Myths Lovebugs are attracted to vehicles and exhaust fumes.

17. Their guts have some kind of enzyme that eats through the clearcoat on an automobile. It burns almost like an acid burn in your paint job. You can't scrape it off. You can't clean it off- it's permanent. (Lake City Reporter) Lovebug Myths

18. Lovebugs fly around in copula.

19. Lovebug Myths Sperm transfer

20. Lovebug Myths UF is conducting research to control lovebugs. http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu

21. What To Do About Lovebugs? Will it help to spray pesticides to control lovebugs? Will it help to spray pesticides to control lovebugs? Do they have any natural enemies? Do they have any natural enemies? Do repellents work? Do repellents work? How can I avoid How can I avoid lovebugs? lovebugs? Swarms occur Swarms occur April-May April-May & August-Sept. & August-Sept.

22. Information on Lovebugs UF/IFAS Featured Creatures article on lovebugs: http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu UF/IFAS Featured Creatures article on lovebugs: http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu EDIS article on lovebugs: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.edu/MG068 EDIS article on lovebugs: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.edu/MG068 UF/IFAS extension information source: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu UF/IFAS extension information source: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu