I’ve been noticing lots of Lovebugs in the last couple of weeks.  I don’t remember that Lovebugs come to visit us in September.  Lovebugs are named that because of the way they mate.  They emerge from the pupae stage fully formed and start mating soon after.  Their main purpose on this earth is to reproduce.  Adults feed on nectar from flowers.  Adults are very short lived, maybe 3 to 4 days.  Adult Lovebugs swarm twice a year, late spring and late summer, lasting about 3 weeks.  

Lovebugs are a great mess to your windshield.  The carwash is usually really busy during this season.  I still don’t remember them being around in September.  I guess the older you get, the more you notice the little things that surround you.  I’m sure there are some chemicals that are labeled to kill the Lovebugs, but since they only live a few days, why bother? Let them hang around and mate, since that is their main purpose in life.  It really sounds kind of sad to me.  That is something else that you don’t think about when you are young.  Yesterday I was a 40-year-old woman that was so busy she would not have noticed the Lovebugs coming twice a year, or even at all unless my windshield was dirty.  Now I see more common things like Lovebugs and the weather changes.  It makes you think that I need to slow down and think.  

On another note, the Webster Parish Fair is coming soon.  I am looking forward to watching my grandchildren show pigs.   The swine program is up a few animals this year.  The kids have already learned a lot with pigs and chickens.  The 4-H program is one of the best programs for kids.  When I was growing up, 4-H was a very important [art of my life.  I still use a lot of the things learned.  

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal. Email Mitzi questions at  mitzithomas40@yahoo.com.)