We are in the middle of love bug season here in Central Florida and they are particularly bad this year. While annoying, love bugs are actually beneficial as larvae, because they help to decompose dead plant material. They get stuck together when they mate and because they are addicted to love, so they mate frequently. The males hatch first and they swarm feverishly, waiting for the females to arrive and when a female finally selects a mate, they’re usually hitched for life. The males stay attached to prevent another male from coming in and fertilizing the female. When a lucky male unites with a female, their abdomens will stay attached for up to 2 days, although mating only lasts about 12 hours. The male then dies and is dragged around by the female. The corpse of the male is detached so the female is able to lay her eggs.
Written for Linda G. Hill Life in progress One-Liner Wednesday – May 8 prompt.
A Unique Title For Me 
Ah, romance! 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not so romantic, when you have to sweep up all the dead ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The crazy thing is I didn’t know there was an *actual* love bug. The cute little sayings are way more appealing than the truth…ugh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anything that comes in swarms, stops being cute.
LikeLike
“The male then dies and is dragged around by the female.” Isn’t that the definition of marriage? 😱
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes but they do die smiling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What’s the scientific name for love bug? Never heard of them. Sounds very disgusting! Don’t you have birds and frogs that help clean them up?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Plecia nearctica. Their bodies are acidic, but some other insects, birds and lizards will eat them if they are hungry enough, although I see lizards walk right past them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like the equivalent of Japanese beetles around here. They and their larvae destroy lawns 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person