May Bugs Preparing their Invasion of Costa Rica.

They are here, the May Bugs have come back again, invading our gardens, our homes and landing in our hair! These brown beetles, seemingly harmless, automatically react to the beginning of the rainy season by coming out of their dormant state. This happens every year around May when the bugs suddenly appear out of nowhere, hence the name. I was actually introduced to them under the name of Tontos, meaning silly or stupid, as they do seem to lack intelligence, flying aimlessly, getting stuck in things (or hair), getting knocked out on walls and windows. They are of course attracted to light and nothing, not even certain death, will stop them. What we see are actually the males looking for mates.

Intriguingly, the amount of bugs varies each year, and seems to be on the decrease.  Some scientist insist that there are less of them every year, partly due to the insecticides used to kill them as their larva damages the crops, as well as because of the urbanization taking over natural habitats, which limits the amount and proximity of plants and grass, where they lay their eggs.

Most residents will tell you that they do not notice this decrease as every year is the same. May Bugs are everywhere, even in the most uncanny places, under the pillow, in a drawer, in cupboards, behind doors, in a glass, under the carpets, and of course, in the hair! Another theory about the decrease in the population is that there are more artificial lights in the country today, with the growing number of houses being built, resulting in more of them being killed while trying to mate with the lights!

The May Bugs have a life cycle of about one year, with the adults ones laying their eggs wherever they can; the larvas, which grow in the soil, eat roots, causing ravaging damages to crops, and emerge after a month of metamorphosis around November and December. At this point the remain in a coma-like state, awaiting the coming rains. As the rains vary from one region to another, you may well find the bugs bugging you at different times in different locations, like on the Atlantic coast for example where the rainy season lasts longer and takes place at a different times than in the Central Valley.

The adult May Bug’s only goal is to reproduce and once it has achieved this, it will slow down and die.
My advice is to check your bedroom and your bed thoroughly before you switch the light off, or else you may well go through a very unpleasant experience, that of having little legs holding on to your hair as if their lives depended on it!

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Filed under: Costa Rican Wildlife on April 24th, 2008