Sasha CampbellLove bugs can be incredibly annoying. This is especially true when they swarm and cling to your vehicle, walls, and outdoor furniture.
While they don’t bite or sting humans, their remains can permanently damage painted surfaces. The good news is that you can control them with a few simple, natural methods.
Identification
Love bugs are scientifically known as Plecia nearctica [1]. They are small flying insects commonly seen in warm regions during spring and late summer.
These insects are also known as honeymoon flies, double-headed bugs, and March flies [2]. They get their popular name from the way they are often seen flying in pairs while mating, joined together for long periods.
They can be a nuisance when they swarm around cars or stick to windshields.
How to Get Rid of Love Bugs Naturally
These are some home remedies and natural solutions that have worked for others.
1. Keep Outdoor Lights to a Minimum
Love bugs are naturally drawn to light, especially in the early morning and evening. Bright porch lights and yard lighting can quickly turn your home into a gathering spot.
Therefore, cut back on unnecessary lighting. You can also try switching to softer yellow bug lights to help reduce the number of bugs attracted to your space.
2. Wash Your Car Frequently
Driving through a swarm of love bugs often leaves your car covered in their remains. If left too long, the acidic residue from their bodies can damage your car’s paint.
Regular washing with mild soap and clean water helps prevent this. A pressure washer can also remove large clumps of bugs from your car.
3. DIY Citrus Spray
Citrus scents are a natural deterrent for many insects, including love bugs.
You can make a simple spray by boiling lemon or orange peels in water, allowing it to cool, and pouring it into a spray bottle. Spray it around windows and on walls to keep love bugs away.
Another recipe is to add 3 tablespoons of citrus dish soap and 3 tablespoons of mouthwash to a cup of water. Shake well and spray.
4. Keep Grass and Weeds Trimmed
Overgrown grass and piles of yard waste create an ideal environment for love bugs to breed. They’re especially attracted to decaying organic matter.
Therefore, mow regularly and remove dead plants and clippings. Doing so can reduce the number of places these bugs can lay eggs and multiply.
5. Essential Oils
Essential oils like peppermint, lemon, citronella, and eucalyptus have strong scents that many insects dislike. Therefore, mixing a few drops with water and spraying affected surfaces can help repel love bugs.
6. Use Fans on Patios and Porches
Love bugs are weak fliers [3], which works in your favor. Even a gentle breeze can make it difficult for them to hover or land.
Therefore, placing a fan in outdoor sitting areas can create enough airflow to keep them away, allowing you to enjoy your porch or patio in peace.
7. Clean Up Organic Debris
Decaying leaves, mulch, and compost piles are prime breeding grounds for love bugs. Keeping your yard clean and free of excess organic material can significantly cut down the population.
If you compost, try to keep the pile well-managed and away from your home.
8. Vinegar
Vinegar has a strong smell that repels many insects.
To make a homemade love bug spray, mix equal parts vinegar and water. This solution creates a simple spray you can use around doors, windows, and other entry points.
9. Install Window and Door Screens
Preventing love bugs from entering your home is just as important as reducing them outside. So, check your screens for holes or gaps and repair them as needed.
A properly sealed home can keep these bugs where they belong—outside.
10. Rinse Them Away with Water
Sometimes the easiest solution is the most effective. A strong stream of water from a garden hose can quickly remove love bugs from walls, windows, cars, and plants.
Doing this regularly during peak season helps keep their numbers manageable.
11. Limit Mulch Around Entryways
Organic mulches hold moisture and break down over time, making them attractive breeding grounds for love bugs.
Try keeping mulch a little farther away from your home’s foundation and entry points. You can also consider using gravel or stones in those areas instead.
12. Remove All Stagnant Water
Standing water can also create a humid environment that love bugs enjoy. Check for clogged gutters, plant saucers filled with water, or containers collecting rain.
Removing these sources helps make your yard less inviting for many pests, including lovebugs.
13. Warm Water and Dish Soap
A simple mixture of warm water and dish soap can be surprisingly effective. The soap breaks down the bugs’ outer coating, dehydrating and later killing them.
You can use this solution to spray the bugs directly. Or you can place dishes with soapy water near light sources so they fall in and drown.
14. Wear Darker Clothing
Love bugs are more attracted to light-colored surfaces, including clothing. If you’re spending time outdoors during peak love bug season, they can land on you.
However, wearing darker colors can make you less appealing to them.
15. Repellent Plants
Certain plants naturally repel insects due to their strong scents.
Herbs like basil, lemongrass, and mint can help deter love bugs. Citronella also repels these pests.
Plant them near windows, doors, or outdoor seating areas.
16. Use a Vacuum Cleaner
When love bugs gather in large numbers on walls, ceilings, or outdoor corners, a vacuum cleaner can be a quick and easy solution.
Instead of swatting them, simply vacuum them up and dispose of the contents right away. This method works especially well for indoor infestations.
17. Timing Matters
Love bugs tend to appear in large numbers during spring and fall [4]. Therefore, being proactive during these seasons can make a big difference.
The earlier you start using these natural methods, the easier it is to keep the love bug population under control.
Takeaway
No single method will completely eliminate love bugs. However, combining several of these natural strategies can dramatically reduce their presence.
The goal is to make your home and yard less attractive to them.
Add comment