Returned from Lake O this afternoon to find the current Love bug infestation isn't limited to mid state. They are terrible everywhere down here. This usually only lasts about 3 weeks but if you are traveling through Fla any time soon consider a screen for your grill and a good coat of wax for the front end, and RainX for the windshield, along with a full tank of windshield washer fluid. There are many "home remedies" for prepping a front end, mostly consisting of anything that keeps the bugs from sticking to the finish. Pam, mineral oil, vasaline, etc. just make sure the cure isn't more damaging than the problem.

Ain't we just the luckiest folks? Lovebugs aren't yet too bad up in my neck of FL, but Danny's hints are important.

I use NuFinish on the painted areas and Rain-X on the glass. Both make removal of lovebugs easier than not.

The trick to lovebug removal is getting them as soon as you can, and using lots of water.

For those of you in the Great White North, lovebugs are called that because you don't just hit one - you hit a breeding pair - actually you'll hit hundreds of breeding pairs if you hit a flock. They are basically harmless, feeding off decaying vegetation, but they leave a waxy residue, and are among the hardest bug carcasses to remove.

BTW, the legend that they were genetically created in the labs of the University of Florida are just that: Legend. Not fact.

Curious? See here.

Love bugs on the small end, palmetto bugs (giant cockroaches) on the big end. Jeez, we don't even have mosquitoes up here.

2 or 3 winters ago in Yuma we had enough rain that the desert flowers bloomed.... and millions of Painted Lady butterflies hatched and started migrating. You couldn't drive more than a couple of miles without killing dozens if not hundreds of them. This winter i don't think i saw a dozen total the whole time we were there.

Had a friend drive to Mississippi this week and he said the love bugs were terrible from north Florida to Mississipi, the worst being 55 north from I 10. They're just starting to show up down here so the next 2 weeks could get pretty bad. Guess I'll have to wax up the nose of the Euro for Talledega next week.

Lovebugs made it to Savannah GA too. Good news: the constant rain washes most down before they hit your car

Although this post was from 2007, it's quite relevant right now too. If you're traveling in Florida be sure to apply a good coat of wax to the front end, and if possible install a screen over any front end openings. RainX helps make the windshield easier to clean. The general consensus down here for cleaning them off seems to be putting wet towels over them for 20 minutes or so, then wash them away. Always do it as soon as you can, the longer they are on the paint the more damage they do.