While I was growing up, a wonderful fixture of evening was fireflies or as in the South--lightning bugs. Moving further south to the more tropical zones, I missed the little bugs. Then, we encountered a new little evening bug. The Lovebug. Harmless little creatures "floating" in the air joined at the hip (so to speak) in pairs. Then, I found out the hazards. Don't talk too much outside because you can breathe in or swallow bugs. And, the little buggers take the paint off your car. It is especially bad if you drive for some reason out in the countryside. Your car gets plastered by hundred of bugs, and if you don't wash them off timely, they will remove the paint. I didn't know if it was an old wives' tale because Hubby kept the cars washed. I found that it was true when I had to stash my car inside the garage during Hurricane Rita evacuation without washing off the cloud of bugs I'd been through. Several weeks later, I returned and washed off the car and the paint came off the front with the bugs.
I mowed the grass last night toward the evening hours to catch the coolness and because we finally figured out what was wrong with the lawnmower. I was mowing through the grass with the little critters floating around me about knee high at that time of day. They look so peaceful floating along. (Although they are really flapping their little wings like crazy.) We like to tease that the female is the one dragging the males along. The female is having to do most of the work it seems. At least, I've been told the big ones are female. With Hubby still not being able to wash vehicles for awhile because of surgery, I know that, economically, twice a year in spring and fall, I need to make sure that I keep all little buggies off the car. Or anything else. Or I'll eventually have to repaint the thing....
Lovebugs....
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 pm 1208990275
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April 23rd, 2008 at 10:51 pm 1208991063
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April 24th, 2008 at 02:53 am 1209005630
Never heard of love bugs. Just as well - LOL.
April 24th, 2008 at 05:56 pm 1209059787
April 24th, 2008 at 06:45 pm 1209062753
April 24th, 2008 at 07:20 pm 1209064853
And have you noticed how many are at the station when you buy gas? Do they love the carbon monixide or what?!?!
Wonder if "scfr" has had her introduction to these TEXAS wonders yet?!?!?
April 24th, 2008 at 07:26 pm 1209065180
Sunshine Suz: That's a good question! Do they exist in the hill country? She'll find out soon since the spring Lovebug season has gotten underway!
April 28th, 2008 at 11:22 pm 1209424923
Stop by sometime!