If you’ve recently moved to Southwest Florida and someone casually mentions “love bug season,” your brain might immediately go to Herbie the Love Bug—a friendly Volkswagen Beetle with personality and charm. Unfortunately, what they’re actually talking about is far less cinematic and a little more… airborne. Real love bugs are small flying insects that show up twice a year (typically late spring and early fall), and they have a very specific talent: appearing everywhere at once.

The reason they’re called “love bugs” is because you’ll almost always see them in pairs—literally attached while flying around like tiny, slightly confused drones. They’re harmless to people (no biting, no stinging, no interest in your personal space beyond accidental collisions), but they do have one annoying habit: they absolutely love your car. Windshields, bumpers, side mirrors—you name it. A short drive during peak season can turn your vehicle into a very abstract piece of art. And while they’re not dangerous, they are persistent enough that locals learn pretty quickly to clean them off sooner rather than later.

Here’s the good news: love bug season is more of a temporary inconvenience than a real problem. It usually lasts a few weeks, and then—just like that—they’re gone. No long-term impact, no lingering issues, just a brief period where everyone collectively acknowledges, “Yep, it’s that time again.” In a place like Sarasota, Bradenton, or Lakewood Ranch, it’s just one of those quirky seasonal things you end up accepting as part of life here. Think of it as Florida’s version of a snowstorm—except instead of shoveling your driveway, you’re washing your car a little more often.

So no, it’s not Herbie. But it is a thing. And once you’ve experienced it, you’ll officially be able to say you’ve lived through a true Southwest Florida rite of passage.