Florida Love Bugs
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,980
Likes: 6,108
From: Florida
They are VERY late this year; usually by early March & October for 2 weeks. Worse in the interior of Florida. I am a couple miles from the coast, so not too bad by me. Last Spring was the worst I have ever seen them.
Yes; the formic acid in them will F up your paint.
Yes; the formic acid in them will F up your paint.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,083
Likes: 1,127
From:
Do not scratch at paint.
A large dedicated beach towel offers a minimal effort solution.
Soak very large towel in plain water.
Place it on bike and walk away.
Return an hour later.
The bug guts will soak the water and most will come off with towel.
Repeat process with other side of towel if it still has some guts.
Then throw towel in washer.
A large towel is better than a bed sheet because it will hold more water.
If traveling then a throw-away T-shirt will get most important parts done.
A large dedicated beach towel offers a minimal effort solution.
Soak very large towel in plain water.
Place it on bike and walk away.
Return an hour later.
The bug guts will soak the water and most will come off with towel.
Repeat process with other side of towel if it still has some guts.
Then throw towel in washer.
A large towel is better than a bed sheet because it will hold more water.
If traveling then a throw-away T-shirt will get most important parts done.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 292
Likes: 81
From: FL
man, dont screw ip my march. It was beautiful around here riding through the orange groves with the blossoms smell.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,115
Likes: 51,405
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Some nasty stuff there, we get seasonal mayflies on the west coast in the inland valleys with all the orchards. Not as thick as the love bug swarms but bigger and juicier, single bug leaves a half dollar sized splatter, hit a cloud of them around dusk it gets messy.
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; May 10, 2020 at 05:44 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,671
Likes: 3,966
From: Near Yosemite
Riding thru a flock of bees in the central valley during pollination season can get quite messy AND painful, lol! Wife got stung 3 time in the legs in one year down there in the agriculture sections of the valley. Guess they bounced off me, landed on her, and got PISSED! Poor girl........... But still NOTHING like those Love bugs you guys are showing, lol! Dayum!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,471
Likes: 2,998
From: Charleston, SC
Was my first year heading to Sturgis and I wondered if it was like that every year. Been back 4 more times and haven't witnessed grasshopper-ageddon since.
I grew up Florida, moved away, and have not lived there since 91. Do.not.miss the lovebugs.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,752
Likes: 3,271
From: West Central Florida
There is an old tale in Florida that the University of Florida bread them to eat mosquitos. That didnt work out so well and now this is what we get for thier research. No natural predators except car grills. Messy bastards for sure. And just sitting still, they swarm white vehicles or masses like walls
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