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If you’re from Central America or the southeastern United States, I bet you recognize this bug and cringed at the sight of it. This is the lovebug (Plecia nearctica), a type of march fly that is infamous for it’s semi-annual flight. Hundreds of thousands of these guys fly twice a year, in late spring and late summer. Adults don’t seem to live long, dying around seven days after mating. They feed on nectar, but as young larvae (maggots) they will feed on decayed vegetation which, at that time, may be beneficial. What’s not so beneficial is the swarm of these guys coming at you in a huge cloud looking like black snow. Photo credit: Carla Finley

If you’re from Central America or the southeastern United States, I bet you recognize this bug and cringed at the sight of it. This is the lovebug (Plecia nearctica), a type of march fly that is infamous for it’s semi-annual flight. Hundreds of thousands of these guys fly twice a year, in late spring and late summer. Adults don’t seem to live long, dying around seven days after mating. They feed on nectar, but as young larvae (maggots) they will feed on decayed vegetation which, at that time, may be beneficial. What’s not so beneficial is the swarm of these guys coming at you in a huge cloud looking like black snow.

Photo credit: Carla Finley

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