Google Books has a reference from 1914: http://books.google.com/books?id=dEXnAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22the%20bugs%20out%22&pg=PA13#v=onepage&q=%22the%20bugs%20out%22&f=fal

Google Books has a reference from 1914: http://books.google.com/books?id=dEXnAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22the%20bugs%20out%22&pg=PA13#v=onepage&q=%22the%20bugs%20out%22&f=false http://books.google.com/books?id=dEXnAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22the%... (It's a little ambiguous as to whether or not it refers to actual bugs, but I think the surrounding context makes it unlikely.) There's also a great reference in a 1915 issue of Automotive Industries: "Harry Grant drove some of the bugs out of his six-cylinder motor since last week when his best time was 91 miles per hour and covered a lap at a 96-mile an hour clip this afternoon. Haupt's Duesenberg has more speed than it had last ..." Which you can kinda see at: http://books.google.com/books?ei=1mZGTaePHoW0sAPl4t2vCg&ct=result&id=UM4qAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22the+bugs+out%22+-stevenson&q=%22the+bugs+out%22#search_anchor http://books.google.com/books?ei=1mZGTaePHoW0sAPl4t2vCg&... but Google's restrictions prevent the actual quote from being viewed in context.