Plecia nearctica
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
The lovebug (Plecia nearctica) is a species of march fly found in parts of Central America and the southeastern United States, especially along the Gulf Coast. It is also known as the honeymoon fly or double-headed bug. During and after mating, mature pairs remain together, even in flight, for up to several days.
The species was first described in 1940 by D. E. Hardy, though it had been observed in Louisiana as early as 1911. At the time, Hardy reported the distribution of lovebugs to be widespread, but more common in Texas and Louisiana than other Gulf States. 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 and South Carolina. 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 300 to 450 meters (980 to 1,480 ft) and extending several kilometers over the Gulf.
Lovebug larvae 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. The lovebug is considered a nuisance by many motorists, especially in the state of Florida, due to its swarming behavior during the species' mating season. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Lovebug sighting in Houston on a given day, based on 331 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 45th most-seen of the 1057 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Lovebug in Houston on a given day, against under 5% in June–July and October–March, the lowest months.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Lovebug sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Common Lovebug sightings, Houston has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Orlando (United States, about 10%) and Miami (United States, under 5%).
Same order: Diptera
The closest relatives of the Common Lovebug that you can see in Houston (order Diptera, Flies) are Margined Calligrapher (about 10%), Northern Plushback (about 10%) and Common Picture-Winged Fly (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Lovebug is recorded against all the insects logged in Houston (331 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
