How To Remove Love Bugs From Your Auto

Plecia nearctica -- commonly called love bugs -- run wild in Southern U.S., particularly Florida, in the spring and fall. The common name "love bug" is due to the male and female flying around while attached to each other rear-to-rear -- their mating position. Though their public mating ritual is well known, a series of urban legends often blurs their origin -- being a part of a failed experiment by the University of Florida is just one of the legends. Actually, they inadvertently arrived in the 1800s via cargo shipped from Central America. The love bug's body secretes an acidic substance, and can leave small divots in your vehicle's paint if you leave squashed love bugs on your car for more than 48 hours. Fortunately, there are chemicals designed specifically for removing dried up bug guts before they can eat your paint.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose
• Clean water source
• Sponge
• Bucket
• Car wash soap
• Bug remover spray
• High-quality automotive wax

Instructions

1. Park your vehicle in a shaded area, as direct sunlight may cause the bug remover spray to dry too quickly.

2. Attach a garden hose to a water source, and turn on the water. Fill the bucket with water and soap, Spray the area covered with love bugs with water from the garden hose to wash off any loose bug innards.

3. Scrub the love bug-covered area with the soap-and-water mixture using a sponge to remove any love bugs loose enough to remove without a chemical. Rinse the affected area with water from the hose.

4. Spray the bug remover spray over the entire area covered in love bugs. Allow the bug remover to set for the time specified by its instructions, and scrub it with a sponge. Rinse the affected area with water and clean it using a sponge and a soap-and-water mixture. Rinse the area with water from the garden hose.

5. Repeat Step 4 until no love bugs remain on the vehicle. Remember, the longer the bugs stay on the vehicle the harder they are to remove, and the more damaging to your vehicle's paint.

6. Apply a generous coat of wax to the affected area to create a barrier preventing the acid from any new love bug impacts from reaching the vehicle's finish. This process varies greatly, depending on the type of wax used, so refer to the wax's instructions for specific direction.

Tips & Warnings

• Applying touch up paint to severely impacted areas can help reduce the visual affect created by the love bug's acidic fluids.

• Do not use household chemicals to remove love bugs, as they are not formulated for use on your vehicle's paint and may cause damage. Spraying cooking oil on your paint does not prevent love bugs from sticking to your paint, and it is difficult to remove. It may also cause damage to your paint.

References

• TripAdvisor.com: Florida: Love Bugs
• "St. Petersburgh Times": Protect Your Car During Love Bug Season; May 2010
• University of Florida; Lovebugs in Florida; D. E. Short; October 1993 (Revised May 2003)
• University of Florida; Featured Creatures: Plecia nearctica; H.A. Denmark and F.W. Mead; August 1998 (Revised April 2010)