Bugs on the Windshield: What are They and Why are There So Much Less Now?

Bugs on the Windshield: What are They and Why are There So Much Less Now?

The constant souvenir of any road trip and week of commuting to work is a windshield peppered with splatters and spots. It feels like you can’t go anywhere in the late spring and entirety of summer without gradually seeing your windshield fill up with bug splatter. But is there actually a science behind this common occurrence? And why does it seem like there are less splatters on our windshields than ever before? Let’s dive into the world of bug splatter and what it can tell us about the general ecosystem of our area!

The “Splatologist” – Mark Hostetler

Believe it or not, there is someone who specialized in this area of entomology. Mark Hostetler, entomologist and self-proclaimed “splatologist” studied bug splatter on windshields and produced his findings in a useful field guide called That Gunk on Your Car. He strapped a large net to the roof of his car one summer and set off to learn about the specifics of common insects along the freeway. Every bug splat that the net collected was studied by Hostetler, who figured out the specific type of insect and some possible reasons as to why it was near a moving car in the first place. He even studied the fronts of buses at a bus station, which showed that the flat fronts of buses collect far more insects than the sloped fronts of cars and pickups. 

The further details of Hostetler’s discoveries are in his book, which would be a fun read if you are interested in learning about the bugs on your windshield from a humorous expert. But there are a few key points that have been discussed in various articles as fun facts to remember while driving. For one, red splatters are typically female insects because the females in many species are the only ones capable of biting. Mosquitoes are one prime example, and are often splattered on windshields in the summer. Another finding is that the largest splatters, often cream or yellow colored, are butterflies and moths because they are usually the heftiest insects found in these areas. Conversely, the smallest splatters are often biting midges. Any spots that seem to glow are predictably fireflies, which are found in and near large meadows. 

One of Hostetler’s main findings was how common love bugs are as bug splatters. Love bugs are not just a metaphor for couples who don’t hide their romantic feelings for each other. They are also black bugs that like to lay their eggs in decaying organic matter, which is the complete opposite of romantic in our eyes. They are mainly found on the East coast, and are most active between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. during the warmer months. Love bugs are actually attracted to exhaust pipes on automobiles for this reason; the smell of exhaust is similar to the decaying matter they seek out, so they lay their eggs in idle exhaust pipes. This is also why they are so common on freeways in certain regions, as the collection of exhaust smells tells them that they found the perfect home. That is, until they find themselves splattered on the windshield of a zooming car.

General Facts to Remember

In addition to Hostetler’s findings, there are some basic facts about bug splatters and insects near the freeway that help to explain why we come home with a windshield full of bug splats after a long road trip. The main reason why the grills and front bumpers of vehicles are the prime spots for insect collisions is because most insect species like to stay about 3-5 feet off the ground. Many of them can fly higher, of course, but they tend to stay around this height when coasting along. But spring and summer are still the most insect-populated times everywhere, so there won’t be a group of flying insects on the front of your car year-round. Insects either die off before, hibernate, or overwinter during the cold months, so there will not be as many splatters in the winter. 

Another general fact is that insects are more commonly splattered in certain conditions. They are more likely to happen at night. The headlights on vehicles attract nocturnal pests, so traveling after the sun goes down may result in more splatters than the daytime. Butterflies are diurnal insects, but they do love the yellow lights on certain vehicles, so they can still be splattered quite often. Also, the size and phase of the moon affects the activity of nocturnal pests. On moonless nights or nights with a major cloud cover, the artificial lights of our vehicles confuses the pests. They will fly towards the headlights, thinking that they are the moon light they normally use to navigate and find food. Instead, they find the windshield or grill and quickly end their nighttime flight.

Rain also affects the general insect population of the freeway area. The period after it rains is filled with insects emerging from their hiding spots and enjoying the new plant growth that comes from the increased moisture, hence why driving through an area that just received rain results in more splatters. But we unfortunately do not get a break from insects during warm weather; heat causes the ectothermic insects to be even more active and seek out a mate to reproduce with. This is why pest control services are crucial in the summer months. Basically, the only times insects are not flying in the general vicinity of traffic are if it is actively raining, snowing, or incredibly windy. But these are also more dangerous conditions for driving, so please be careful out on the road!

Factors of the Splats

We’ve touched on some general facts about the conditions surrounding increased bug splatters, but there are even more factors that affect the intensity and frequency of the splats. Think of how each season of the year brings about different pest problems at home; the seasons and areas with increased pest activity near houses will also see an increase on the roads. These factors are not the “set-in-stone” rules for when insects will fly into the fronts of our cars, as life is unpredictable and insects can be active in times when they may not have been in the past. 

With that in mind, here are the most important factors in the prevalence and size of the bug splatters on windshields and grills:

• Current location
• Time of year
• Speed of the vehicle
• The proximity of the travel route to insect habitats
• Weather conditions
• Cloud cover
• Time of day
• The proximity of the road to fields and crops
• The aggregation of insects while searching for mates
• Insects’ behavior near vehicles
• The shape of the vehicle and airflow with it
• The presence of a body of water nearby (mayflies love rivers)

So, the next time you find the front of your car coated in a thin layer of bugs, consider some of these factors to see if they line up with the amount of insects. If you have young children, it could be a fun yet gross science lesson on why there are a lot of bug splatters after driving. It may even get them interested in learning more about insects! But there may not be as many bug splatters today as you remember from your childhood, which is something that many drivers have noticed within the past several years. Luckily, scientists and experts have studied some of the possible reasons behind this phenomenon!

Why Are There Fewer Splats Today?

If you noticed a lack of bug splatters on your windshield after a road trip recently, you are not alone. There is even a term for this situation: the windshield phenomenon, a great name in our humble opinion. This basically just means that there are less bug splats on windshields than before, no matter where we travel. Recent scientific studies in the 2010s were done to figure out why this is and if there is an exact reason for the lack of bugs. The average count of bug splatters on windshields in various areas is down about 50% from 2004, as of 2019. As you may have guessed, there is not one sole reason for this phenomenon. But there are definitely a few reasons and results that came out of these studies as to why less bugs paint our windshields, so these reasons combined answer the previous question.

One reason is because of laminar airflow around the cars. This airflow is completely uniform in both direction and velocity, which is how bugs can get caught in it and glide right into the front of the car. If the bug is lucky, it will get in the airflow around the car and avoid a sudden end. The aerodynamic windshields of most vehicles help to promote the laminar airflow in general. It is not an exact science and does not mean that we don’t see any splatter, but it certainly cuts down on the number of splats.

Another reason is the state of the land surrounding freeways. Many large freeways are surrounded by farmland and crop fields, which used to mean driving through “bug central” every time. The fields are generally more kept up and maintained than they were decades ago, which means less time for insects to reproduce. The introduction of industrial farming and large-scale pesticides also cut down on the number of pests in these areas. There will likely still be more insects in these areas than in urban ones, but still not nearly as nightmarish as before.

A third reason from these studies is another fun term: hill-topping. This is when insects use the tops of hills to aggregate during mating season, which can mean a massive gathering of insects in certain areas. Before many of the forests and trees were cut down in the U.S., the insects would use the tops of trees for this social activity. This still occurs in some rural areas, but the hills are most commonly used among different insect species. If you are driving near or on hills, you may experience more bug splatter than other areas. The flat regions might not have as many splats as a result. More hills means more insects, so keep that in mind if you plan on driving through the rolling hills.

There are other reasons for the decrease in bug splatter, including a drop in overall insect populations as a whole, but these are the main ones. If you come home with a bug-coated car, as lessened as it may be, it is a good idea to clean it as soon as possible. Bug guts are acidic and will destroy the paint if left on for too long, especially if it’s hot outside. The typical drive-through car washes are a great option, or you could wash it at home the old-fashioned way. Just be sure to use a microfiber cloth so you don’t ruin the paint! 

Pest Control Keeps the Windshield of Life Clean!

Unfortunately, pest control services can’t travel in your car everywhere you go, as useful as that would be. Bug splats may be inevitable, even in lower quantities, but that does not mean you have to live with pest problems in your own home or business. Pest infestations can lead to extensive damage and costly repairs, as well as food contamination and health risks of people and pets. Our pest control services are here to help! Our team of experienced pest control technicians are always happy to solve your pest problems with our EPA-approved treatments. Contact us to learn how you can enjoy a pest-free home or business before departing on the open road.

Citations

Baker, B. (2016, May 4). Infrequently asked questions: Why do so many bugs hit my windshield?. Philly Voice. Available at https://www.phillyvoice.com/infrequently-asked-questions-why-do-so-many-bugs-hit-my-windshield/ (Accessed on August 25, 2022).

Debczak, M. (2022, February 12). The windshield phenomenon: Why you see fewer bugs splattering cars today. Mental Floss. Available at https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/655338/windshield-phenomenon-why-you-see-fewer-bugs-splattering-cars-today (Accessed on August 25, 2022). 

Linn, V. (2006, June 3). Splatter-gories: Those bugs on your windshield can tell volumes about our environment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Available at https://www.post-gazette.com/life/lifestyle/2006/06/04/Splatter-gories-Those-bugs-on-your-windshield-can-tell-volumes-about-our-environment/stories/200606040158 (Accessed on August 25, 2022). 

Pierce, E. (n.d.). The best ways to clean bugs off your car (and how to avoid them in the first place). Geico Living. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://www.geico.com/living/driving/auto/auto-care/bugs/