LOVE BUGS

Love bugs in LA this weekend...hopefully they will start appearing elsewhere!

I've already seen some stuck to the bay walls here in central Texas.

As difficult as it is to get them off the walls after they've been splatted on a car and washed off with soap, I'd hate to think of getting them off of hundreds of cars.

#1 Myth with bugs is that their bodies are acidic. Their bodies are no more acidic than our own. The acid that eats paint is caused by bacterial decay that is occurring on a large mass of protein, hence even more importance for removing them before decay sets in. A single pair of bugs can weigh 35 mg...multiply that by a couple of thousand and that's the brew you've got on your paint.

"Plecia nearctica" is their scientific name. They are in the May fly family. They are attracted to the highways because of the formaldehyde created by the sun radiation on exhaust fumes. (you'll see less bugs at night). They earn their name literally, then die within 2 - 3 days. They occur from Honduras, Costa Rica, Mexico, TX, LA, FL, GA, MS, to SC. Two generations emerge each year from a larval state...May & September. Some chemical controls were attempted in the 60's but to limited avail. Lovebugs emerge only to reproduce...most of the year they help our earthworms, etc, in the decay process of our soils.

I've seen brand new automobiles have ruined front bumpers, hoods and mirrors in a matter of two days. The state of Florida put out a brochure on the topic in the 70's that recommended using "Pam" kitchen spray for protection. Don't dare use that! It's impossible to remove and can ruin your paint as bad as the bugs(Pam has denatured alcohol). Use some type of spray wax and remove them in 24 hours.

Removal: Being in the full service business since 1954, we have tried everything you can imagine to speed the process up. In the early days, steam guns were the best. There's no way to discribe the smell of lovebugs cooked in steam. Chemicals...baking soda, beer, you name it...we tried it. I think the safest bet is a mild detergent applied, as soon as possible, then a pressure gun with moderately hot water in it. I've repainted a lot of cars during bug season, so I've learned there is a balance between speed and safety. Tire soap and a hot water pressure gun will get them off quick but will also get you in trouble quick.

Thanks for info Jim, we have bugs year round from the rice fields, they are nothing like the love bugs. We had a car come through the wash a few days ago, they were visiting from FL it was covered in bugs, im assuming they were not love bugs, they came off pretty easy!

The longer they are on, the harder they are to get off. Plastic front ends are even harder(glass/chrome easier). After a bad September, I will still see black dots of their remains on front ends around Christmas time. If their wings are still visible they are fresh.

When I was a full service, I would have to bring out my rubbing compound to prove to customers their paint was damaged by the bugs. We could rub and rub and rub...and the customer would tell my employees to continue. The customer would say they could feel the bug, when actually they were feeling the spec of paint that was eaten away. We also used a magnifying glass to prove our point. It was ridiculous but good for the bank account.

still the best I found was to keep wetting the cars in queue (to cool them off to prevent flashing snd facilitate the bugs removal) then spray on BUG GOO by LUSTRA as the cars as stacking. I rarely have a car flash using BUG GOO. I never use a wheel cleaner, RED HOT or SPECIAL CLEANER... THEY WILL ALL FLASH!

Nothing works (so far for me at least) like BUG GOO. I am not a rep... nor do I use Lustra products routinely. This is one of maybe 2-3 Lustra product that I use in my entire operation. But it is one of the most important products in my arsenal this time of the year and I would not operate without it!

I am a rep for Lustra, Bug Goo is great! It's gets me in the door at alot of car washes.

Blue Coral had a product like that called "slime". I don't know if they still make it.

Hey guys...new to this site! I'm having a big problem with bugs, I dont have enough soak or "dwell time" for my presoak to remove the bugs. Can the "slime" and "bug goo" be applied (using a thumb sprayer) to a dry car without staining the paint? Thanks!

I know bug goo can, the pump sprayer is how I demo it.

I've only had "BUG GOO" flash a few cars and this is in Florida where cars get VERY HOT. I recomend keeping a hose or prep wand available to spray the front first to cool off the car a bit first. If not you will risk flashing. Some plastic mirrors will flash, but that can easily be corrected with a wax applied to the mirror. I apply the bug goo in a pump sprayer of in a spray bottle.

Thanks for the replies, I will order some bug goo and give it a whirl. I'm currently prepping with a touch free presoak from zep using thumb guns, but we have to wet down every car prior to applying due to flashing. I would like to make it an automated system instead of having the guys do it, because we all know on a busy saturday not every car gets prepped. Before I do that I need to find a product that can safely be applied on a hot dry car.

Chad, glad to see you on here. I'll try to get by your Freehold wash in July when I'm up there.

Sounds good Bob...Thanks! Look forrward to seeing you.