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hogdriver · 04-22-2014, 05:00 AM

That time of year again. I drove 160 mi across lower florida from Ft Pierce thru Okeechobee and into FT Myers and the whole way you could hear the rain like sound of Love Bugs meeting their blissful end. The entire front of the RV was black.

Don't leave hme without your bug washing gear!

Steve N Sal · 04-22-2014, 05:10 AM

Yup, they're back. They sure are a pain.

Nuclear · 04-22-2014, 05:15 AM

Ok...here is the newbie question...is there special gear to tackle the bugs? I have a front mounted engine--any thing I can do to keep radiator clean?
I'll be headed to Florida at some point and have heard of those bugs, but never ran into them while stationed on the east side if the state.

Triker56 · 04-22-2014, 06:06 AM

They still make screen covers for front radiators.

The Love Bug Eraser really works to get them off.
It saves a lot of elbow grease.

Many other tips on getting them off.

palehorse89 · 04-22-2014, 06:15 AM

Apply a good coat of "Rejex" to combat those bugs..........best stuff for the front end, or the entire Coach for that matter, bugs will wash off easily.
http://www.amazon.com/Corrosion-Tech.../dp/B00GVKUPLC

nosticks · 04-22-2014, 07:28 AM

It's May (actually April) and they are here early. The twice a year revenge for their ancestors, usually a May and October event. I was gettting the RV ready for a trip to Georgia tomorrow and a few landed while I was working on it. Oh what fun it will be getting them off the front of everything.

The sooner you get them off the better. Most I know here use wet fabric softner sheets to get the little buggers off flat surfaces. A good hose to the radiators as soon as possible needs to be done as well.

djbmsu · 04-22-2014, 11:32 AM

BE CAREFULL ! Be very carefull what you use for bug removal as some products will soften and disolve the Diamond Shield or 3M film. The best product I ever used and it works perfect is to wax the front with Rejex and then apply RainX on the entire front. The bugs will wash off effortlessly. The key of course is to wash them off every night and not let them sit. Love bug blood is acidic.

KT4Wextra · 04-22-2014, 03:39 PM

I would imagine the Gnats are out in force in South Georgia also. Basically its anything south of the 38th parallel (south of Macon). Has to do with a prehistoric shore for the Atlantic Ocean, water table and the soil.

My first camping in an RV was an old KOA campground in Unadilla. DW wanted to sit outside since we had a very small camper then. The Gnats were so bad we had to stay inside. When we stopped at a mini-mart there the clerk said don't breath with you mouth open or you will inhale a bunch of them. My next door neighbor is from South Georgia and when I told him about it he said "Oh, you were below the Gnat Line". When it gets above 45 degrees they hatch out.

You can Google "Gnat Line Georgia" and get the info on that. They sure make outside living in South Georgia miserable.

reubenray · 04-22-2014, 04:33 PM

Kill them all before we head that way!!!!!

LeeRevell · 04-23-2014, 07:29 AM

Have only seen a very few in north Florida so far. They usually hit us in April and September - last year hardly any. This year they are late. Odd since with the mild winter and early spring rains everything else came out early!

Brian W · 04-23-2014, 11:51 AM

Staying at Lazy Days campground and a Phaeton just pulled in. Looks like he was in a war with Love Bugs. He is going to have a fun time getting all those things scrubbed off. He must have had a heck of a time seeing out of the windshield.

Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum

SarahW · 04-23-2014, 06:49 PM

Just thought I'd add that lovebugs are not exclusive to Florida. You will encounter them across the entire Gulf Coast, from Texas to all points east.

cmalberto · 04-23-2014, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahW

Just thought I'd add that lovebugs are not exclusive to Florida. You will encounter them across the entire Gulf Coast, from Texas to all points east.

I think they must migrate from Florida...man I hate those suckers...they are a pain to clean off all the vehicles.

Fl_Richard · 04-25-2014, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KT4Wextra

I would imagine the Gnats are out in force in South Georgia also. .....

Had an old SW Florida native tell me once while working on his property... "If the Gnats are bothering you just slice a hole in the butt of your pants and they'll leave you alone" - Laughed.....