Louisiana is under invasion again..not by tourists, not by mosquitoes, but by love bugs.
Those little black-and-orange couples are locked together, flying in tandem, and splattering across every windshield in sight.
“Before you go all whack-a-bug, be advised they serve a very important purpose,” says entomologist Sebe Brown.
“Love bugs are at the bottom of the food chain and provide a food source for just about every other type of crawler or flyer that’s important to the ecosystem.”
And they don’t just feed others, they pull their own weight, too. “They’re actually excellent pollinators themselves,” Brown explains.
The good news? They won’t bite, sting, or trigger your allergies. The bad news?
“Being stuck to your car is only your first problem,” Brown warns. “The stomach contents of the bugs will eat through your paint job if they’re left too long.”
Still, their season is short-lived. “Once the canoodling couples mate, lay eggs, and pollinate a few flowers, they’ve completed their mission in life,” Brown says.
Then, just like that, the swarms vanish; until next year’s flight of love.
