Lovebug is an insect that forms huge swarms when mating. The insects are called lovebugs because mating adults may remain coupled end-to-end for up to three days. Lovebugs are actually flies, not bugs. They live in the United States near the Gulf of Mexico, in eastern Mexico, and in parts of Central America. Swarming lovebugs are a nuisance near highways and residential areas. The insects spatter against automobile windshields and clog automobile radiators. They also stick to walls of newly painted houses.
Lovebugs usually mate in May and September. Immense swarms of the males hover over pastures and drained swampland. When the females enter the swarm, they pair with males and fly to the ground, coupling within a few minutes. The coupled pair then returns to the air and drifts or flies to flowers, where the female feeds on nectar and pollen. After mating has been completed, the female flies to the ground to lay her eggs.
