Editing Lovebug (section)

{{Short description|Species of fly}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Lovebug
| image = Lovebugs.jpg
| image_caption = Two lovebugs mating
| taxon = Plecia nearctica
| authority = [[D. Elmo Hardy|Hardy]], 1940<ref name="Hardy1940">{{cite journal|last1=Hardy|first1=D. Elmo|title=Studies in New World Plecia (Bibionidae: Diptera)|journal=Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society|date=1940|volume=13|issue=1|pages=15–27|publisher=Kansas (Central States) Entomological Society|location=Kansas|jstor=25081585}}</ref>
}}

The '''lovebug''' ('''''Plecia nearctica''''') is a species of [[Bibionidae|march fly]] found in parts of Central America and the southeastern United States, especially along the [[Gulf Coast]].<ref name="denmark"/> It is also known as the '''honeymoon fly''' or '''double-headed bug'''. During and after mating, matured pairs remain together, even in flight, for up to several days.<ref name="leppla">{{cite web |url=http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN694 |title=Living with lovebugs|first=Norman |last=Leppla | publisher=Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida |work=Electronic Data Information Source of UF/IFAS Extension |date= September 2009 |access-date=23 September 2010 }}</ref>

The species was first described in 1940 by [[D. Elmo Hardy|D. E. Hardy]], though it had been observed in [[Louisiana]] as early as 1911.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://journals.fcla.edu/flaent/article/view/57084/54763 |format=PDF |title=Invasion of Florida by the "Lovebug" Plecia Nearctica (Diptera: Bibionidae) |first=Lawrent L. |last=Buschman |publisher=Florida Entomological Society |volume=59 | issue=2 |date=June 1976 |pages=191–194 |journal=Florida Entomologist |doi=10.2307/3493971 |jstor=3493971 |access-date=8 February 2016 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> At the time, Hardy reported the distribution of lovebugs to be widespread, but more common in [[Texas]] and [[Louisiana]] than other [[Gulf States (U.S.)|Gulf States]].<ref name="denmark">{{cite web |url=http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/lovebug.htm |title=Lovebug, ''Plecia nearctica'' Hardy |first=Harold |last=Denmark |author2=Mead, Frank |author3=Fasulo, Thomas |publisher=University of Florida/IFAS |date= April 2010 |work=Featured Creatures |access-date=22 September 2010 }}</ref>  By the end of the 20th century the species had spread to all areas bordering the [[Gulf of Mexico]], the entirety of [[Florida]], and had spread as far as [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[South Carolina]]. The species is also present in other countries, including [[Australia]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} [[L. A. Hetrick]], writing in 1970, found the bug was also widespread in central and northern Florida and described its flights as reaching altitudes of {{convert|300|to|450|m}} and extending several kilometers over the Gulf.<ref name="Hetrick">{{cite journal |url=http://journals.fcla.edu/flaent/article/view/56532/54211 |format=PDF |title=Biology of the 'love-bug', (Diptera: Bibionidae)|first=L. |last=Hetrick |publisher=Entomological Society of Florida |date=March 1970  |journal=Florida Entomologist  |pages=23–26 |volume=53|doi=10.2307/3493110 |jstor=3493110 |access-date=23 September 2008 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Lovebugs' [[larva]]e feed on partially decayed vegetation in the landscape and, in this respect, are beneficial to humans. Adults primarily feed on nectar from various plants, particularly [[sweet clover]], [[goldenrod]], and [[Brazilian pepper]].<ref name="denmark" /> The lovebug is considered a nuisance by many [[Driving|motorists]], especially in the state of Florida, due to its swarming behavior during the species' mating season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Love bugs 'worst in 20 years' say car washes who are ringing up the business |url=https://www.news-press.com/story/money/2019/05/10/love-bug-splatters-mean-20-increase-car-wash-business/1166476001/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=The News-Press |language=en-US}}</ref>