Fort Myers Beach Island Life and Real Estate

08/13/2019

First documented green sea turtle nest on Fort Myers Beach hatches.

07/09/2019

NHC giving system 80% chance of forming into tropical depression later this week. Heavy rains are the only concern in Southwest Florida

07/05/2019

Photos: Fort Myers Beach Fourth of July Parade, https://bit.ly/2XNSC0A

06/25/2019

06/25/2019

BRUTAL! Peak heat index from 100° - 110° Tuesday across Florida. Stay cool! ☀️🔥

05/09/2019

Love ❤️ Bug Season is here...

In today’s installment of Wildlife Wednesday, we will discuss a recent hot topic for Floridians. The aptly named “Love Bug”- Plecia nearctica, a species of march fly. Why “love bug” if people hate them so? Well, because they are usually seen “stuck” together, mating. First and most importantly, love bugs are NOT an experiment by a university created to control mosquitoes. If science had advanced to a level of being able to completely create an organism that successfully feeds and reproduces, do you really think it would be a love bug? Certainly not. Also, they do not eat mosquitoes. They nectar on flowers much like other pollinators, and in this way they are beneficial to the environment. Love bugs are an exotic an invasive species, coming from Central America- migrating into the United States in the 1920s and into Florida in the 1940s. Their reproduction has been successful for two reasons, first- not many predators are interested in eating them. Additionally, their larvae break down fallen and dead vegetation. Florida clearly has a lot of this, especially with the decrease in natural fires and suitably warm temperatures. This action aids in decomposing plant matter which provides nutrients to the soil. Love bugs also contribute fertilizer with the carcasses that do not end up on our vehicles. These are other ways that while exotic and invasive, they are beneficial. The lifespan of an adult love bug is 3 to 4 days. This is filled with mating and staying stuck together- often with one still flying while the other is deceased. As many as 8 males compete over a single larger female to get “stuck” for life. These honeymooners are attracted to exhaust fumes, which is why they are often congregating around roads and areas where they end up splattered on vehicles. Another misconception is that love bugs are acidic and that their guts will dissolve the paint on your car. This is not true either. Most of the “white splat” that you see is actually their eggs. Natural bacterial and fungal elements of decomposition and heat from the sun cause compounds that can dissolve paint on your vehicle. Soaking the front of your car with water and then scrubbing with a dryer sheet or brush and Dawn soap DAILY will remove them. Wax should be applied if Dawn is used. A deflector or wax on the front of your car will help prevent as many sticking. Unfortunately, love bugs are here to stay and do not respond well to pesticides. They come out for a few weeks in both May and September- Essentially marking the coming of summer and the coming of fall. Love bugs cannot hurt you, they do not bite or sting and they do not carry any diseases. Written By -Dixie Resnick, CEO CMNC

05/01/2019

It’s almost Hurricane Season...

🌀 HURRICANE SEASON ONE MONTH AWAY 🌀

Hard to believe, but the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season is *ONE* month from today on June 1st. Never too early to have a plan for your family!

- Matt Devitt WINK Weather

04/25/2019

Going to miss seeing him at Skye’s restaurant in Santini Plaza :-(

Brian Howe is selling his Southwest Florida house and moving to the Nashville area. He's donating part of the sale to an animal rescue.