Love Bug Season in Florida
04-24-2011, 01:17 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Love Bug Season in Florida
Love Bug Season has begun in SW Florida. That means it's time to put an extra coat of wax on the mirrors and the front end, and put that bra/nose cover on, especially if you will be traveling on the freeway.
If they're not cleaned off right away, the Love Bugs have an acid that will eat through your clearcoat and then your paint. They longer they are left on the finish, the harder they are to remove, even with bug cleaner.
A good way to clean them off is to use a wetted Dryer (fabric softener) Sheet.
Don't be lazy and not clean them off !!
If they're not cleaned off right away, the Love Bugs have an acid that will eat through your clearcoat and then your paint. They longer they are left on the finish, the harder they are to remove, even with bug cleaner.
A good way to clean them off is to use a wetted Dryer (fabric softener) Sheet.
Don't be lazy and not clean them off !!
Last edited by GeneT; 04-24-2011 at 01:18 PM. Reason: sp
04-24-2011, 01:22 PM
#2
Team Owner
you can also soak a towel or two in warm water and place them on the front end of the car for 5-10 minutes before washing and they come off pretty easy
04-24-2011, 02:05 PM
#3
Race Director
Member Since: Jul 2008
Location: The Sunshine State
Posts: 16,992
Received 2,673 Likes
on
1,479 Posts
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Because my C5 vert is not my daily driver, I tend to keep it tucked away nice and clean in the garage for the 2-3 weeks these little bastards are flying around.
For my DD, I spread a thin layer of Cisco cooking oil over the front bumper and side mirrors. I then try to hose them off every evening after a day of driving.
I was out this Easter Morning and they were everywhere! I pity the poor guys who are riding their motorcycles.
For those who are not familiar with "Love Bugs", the smaller male and the larger female hook up for some mid-air action and stay connected through this mating ritual until the smaller male literally dies from exhaustion. (What a way to go I guess!)
Happy Easter!
For my DD, I spread a thin layer of Cisco cooking oil over the front bumper and side mirrors. I then try to hose them off every evening after a day of driving.
I was out this Easter Morning and they were everywhere! I pity the poor guys who are riding their motorcycles.
For those who are not familiar with "Love Bugs", the smaller male and the larger female hook up for some mid-air action and stay connected through this mating ritual until the smaller male literally dies from exhaustion. (What a way to go I guess!)
Happy Easter!
04-24-2011, 02:59 PM
#5
Intermediate
Member Since: Jul 2005
Location: Brooksville FL.
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
NOOOOO, Please dont do that. Ihad a mustand yeasr ago and i put oil on my hood and the sun baked the paint, but i live in fla. so just be carefull.Because my C5 vert is not my daily driver, I tend to keep it tucked away nice and clean in the garage for the 2-3 weeks these little bastards are flying around.
For my DD, I spread a thin layer of Cisco cooking oil over the front bumper and side mirrors. I then try to hose them off every evening after a day of driving.
I was out this Easter Morning and they were everywhere! I pity the poor guys who are riding their motorcycles.
For those who are not familiar with "Love Bugs", the smaller male and the larger female hook up for some mid-air action and stay connected through this mating ritual until the smaller male literally dies from exhaustion. (What a way to go I guess!)
Happy Easter!
For my DD, I spread a thin layer of Cisco cooking oil over the front bumper and side mirrors. I then try to hose them off every evening after a day of driving.
I was out this Easter Morning and they were everywhere! I pity the poor guys who are riding their motorcycles.
For those who are not familiar with "Love Bugs", the smaller male and the larger female hook up for some mid-air action and stay connected through this mating ritual until the smaller male literally dies from exhaustion. (What a way to go I guess!)
Happy Easter!
04-24-2011, 03:03 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jan 2000
Location: Port Saint Lucie Florida
Posts: 750
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Love Bug Season has begun in SW Florida. That means it's time to put an extra coat of wax on the mirrors and the front end, and put that bra/nose cover on, especially if you will be traveling on the freeway.
If they're not cleaned off right away, the Love Bugs have an acid that will eat through your clearcoat and then your paint. They longer they are left on the finish, the harder they are to remove, even with bug cleaner.
A good way to clean them off is to use a wetted Dryer (fabric softener) Sheet.
Don't be lazy and not clean them off !!
If they're not cleaned off right away, the Love Bugs have an acid that will eat through your clearcoat and then your paint. They longer they are left on the finish, the harder they are to remove, even with bug cleaner.
A good way to clean them off is to use a wetted Dryer (fabric softener) Sheet.
Don't be lazy and not clean them off !!
Thanks for the heads up! How long do they stick around or is this like june bugs that come and go?
04-24-2011, 03:30 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Aug 2000
Location: Green Cove Springs FL
Posts: 2,900
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovebug
04-24-2011, 03:59 PM
#8
Racer
Thread Starter
04-24-2011, 04:32 PM
#9
Race Director
Member Since: Jul 2008
Location: The Sunshine State
Posts: 16,992
Received 2,673 Likes
on
1,479 Posts
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
4-5 weeks or so around May and September. Being a lifetime FL resident, some love bug seasons are worse than others.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovebug
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovebug
04-24-2011, 04:34 PM
#10
Race Director
Member Since: Jul 2008
Location: The Sunshine State
Posts: 16,992
Received 2,673 Likes
on
1,479 Posts
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
The key is you remove it every day and make sure your car does not bake in a parking lot during the day. I drive from (home) garage to (work) garage so I only spread a light covering over the front bumper and mirrors and never on the hood top. It helps with my evening cleaning when I hose off the front end. I do this daily during the time they are swarming and so far I've had no issues or marks in the clearcoat. I moved to Florida in 2005 and my neighbor gave me the tip.
Last edited by MSG C5; 04-24-2011 at 06:17 PM.
04-24-2011, 05:29 PM
#11
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2004
Location: Oklahoma City OK
Posts: 58,255
Received 1,672 Likes
on
1,295 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I think that I would use a bra.
04-24-2011, 05:45 PM
#12
Wow, I didn't even know love bugs were such a problem in your neck of the woods.
I find that Lucas Slick Mist is an excellent product to keep bugs from sticking to the front of the car. A good application once a week does wonders.
I find that Lucas Slick Mist is an excellent product to keep bugs from sticking to the front of the car. A good application once a week does wonders.
04-24-2011, 06:15 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
Daily wipe down with spray detailer is about the best I can do. Garage is full so my C5 has to sit outside. So far they aren't that bad on the Cocoa Beach area but they are coming.
04-24-2011, 06:31 PM
#14
Team Owner
Use PAM. Cheap, easy to apply and washes right off along with the bugs.
04-24-2011, 06:43 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
we get them real bad down here and the wet towel does it real easy , especially if you get alot of them, virtually no wiping
04-24-2011, 09:37 PM
#18
Administrator
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 342,637
Received 19,200 Likes
on
13,918 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Sure glad we don't have those bugs up here. I can only imagine the mess they make on the car.
04-25-2011, 09:47 AM
#20
Racer
Thread Starter
Whatever method you use, you want to get them off of the paint IMMEDIATELY when you get home or to your destination. If you run into swarms of them on the freeway, you can have hundreds, even thousands on your car. And they seem to like the freeways. Some people say they are attracted to the exhaust gasses.
