Icky facts on bug splats

Swatting swarms of pesky bugs has become greatly facilitated by the invention of the automobile. Every Utah windshield bears the smatter of a bug's demise.

Utahns don't need to look far to see a variety of bugs while traveling this summer. Moths will pelt windshields at night while butterflies and midges batter them by day. Swarms of bugs will pound windshields when driving near Utah water sources, particularly mayflies and caddisflies.

"I had a friend on a motorcycle who passed through a swarm of mayflies by the Bear River," said Dr. C. Riley Nelson, entomologist and Brigham Young University professor. "He had to stop and clean everything off and go slowly alongside the river. It can be dangerous to travel there."

Other places Utahns may see insects slapping the glass are between Ogden and Brigham City passing Willard Bay Reservoir. Another splat spot is along U.S. 89 in southern Utah near the Sevier River.

Despite their directed flights straight into the grills and glass of vehicles, bugs typically are not attempting kamikaze attacks.

"There are so many roads and millions of insects, the odds are much greater than those of hitting a mammal," said Mark Hostetler, professor at Florida University and self-described "splatologist."

Most bugs die because of sheer numbers crossing the thousands of roads in Utah. However, exhaust, headlights and yellow road reflectors can also attract the flittering fliers. Whether lured in or not, the bugs can leave quite a mark.

"Large female moths full of eggs will leave the biggest splat," Hostetler said. "The softer bodied insects (such as moths) just smear."

And others can make quite a racket.

"When big beetles hit the windshield it sounds like you ran into a cow," said Nelson.

Still others can seriously handicap visibility.

"From time to time we have a big migration of painted lady butterflies," said Nelson. "They cover a lot of windshields quickly."

Utahn Evan Hicken sees splats as he drives his truck for Geneva Rock. He's noticed most bugs along the freeway between Springville and Payson. But insects have never bugged Hicken much, despite his occupation.

"It doesn't bother me," he said. "I wash them off every couple weeks. It's rare that they get bad enough that I get distracted."