WARNING: Lovebug Season Has Hit Disney World. Here's What to Do About It.

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We regret to inform you that lovebug season is here.

We’ve talked about parachuting spiders and venomous caterpillars (*shivers*), but it’s time to talk about the lovebugs in Disney World. Now, before you cancel your park pass reservations and avoid all contact with the outside world, check out these tips to help deter the not-so-lovely pests.

Let’s start with the most important detail — they do not bite! They’re just an enormous nuisance. This season lasts for about 4 weeks in May and September, so we’re currently in September’s lovebug season. And yes, they hang out in Disney World, too (while we’re annoyed by their presence, we can’t blame them for wanting to be here).

So what is a lovebug? These little black and red bugs are a species of march fly. They are called lovebugs because, well, you almost always see them paired up. They actually mate in flight, and remain connected, flying about, for 1-2 days.

There’s a myth out there that lovebugs were created in a lab at the University of Florida and are a science experiment gone wrong. That’s false, but you might hear it from a well-meaning Central Florida resident or two. The real story is that lovebugs are native to Central America, and they probably got here to Florida (and some other parts of the southern U.S.) as many non-native species do — as stowaways on cargo ships.

©David Cappaert

While they are totally harmless, they are annoying! Here are some tips to repel lovebugs:

Wear darker-colored clothing. The insects are attracted to lighter colors, so wearing darker colors of clothing can help.
Wear a neck fan. Running a fan can help blow them away and keep them from landing on surfaces, so we’re hoping this logic also applies to neck fans! This should keep them off our heads, right?! (Click here to grab a neck fan from Amazon.)
Consider wearing these scents. Many believe that peppermint oil, lemon oil, and/or eucalyptus oil will send lovebugs flying in another direction.

And those are some ways to avoid the lovebugs! They may be annoying, but remember they go away just as quickly as they appeared. One more important note — if you drove to Disney World, you may wind up with a bunch of deceased love bugs on your car bumper. You’ll want to find a car wash if you do — the decaying bugs have been known to damage car paint.

For info on some other bugs you may encounter at Disney World, check out the spiders flying their way to Florida. Or take a look at the hairy caterpillars you don’t want to touch.

And, as always, stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news.