A growth of small plants shelters, totally protecting love bugs (10)

I believe the answer is:

mosquitoes

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But I can't explain it at all! Could you help me understand?

(Other definitions for mosquitoes that I've seen before include "Irritating fliers" , "Flies" , "Bearers of malaria" , "Malaria carriers" , "Carriers of disease" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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