Mozzies, lovebugs, and other nasties waiting in holiday hotspots this summer

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a day ago

Most people who have been to the continent or further afield on holiday will have been bitten by some kind of bug and spent many an evening scratching, taking antihistamines, and rubbing in creams or gels to try to stop the maddening itch.
The summertime is dreaded by many of us for that very reason, but 2025, for some reason, seems to be worse than recent years, with reports of swarms of nasties descending on holiday hotspots to feast on unsuspecting tourists.
If you are heading to Spain, France, Italy or Portugal, be aware the mosquitoes are out in force, arriving to your outdoor dining experience as the sun sets, and catching innocent holiday makers on their softest spots, like the backs of the knees, the neck and soft Irish skin that is not normally exposed to the fresh air and sunshine. A stock image of mosquitoes. Pic: Shutterstock
They are prevalent in warm, humid environments, especially near water. In some destinations like Africa and Asia, mosquitoes can transmit diseases like Malaria, Dengue fever, and the Zika virus.
However, they are not too difficult to deal with in Europe. Make sure your windows and doors are equipped with mosquito blinds and nets. Citronella candles are another handy deterrent, as the little creatures don't like the lemony smell, and another way to keep the number of mozzies down is to install bat boxes around your garden.
A bat can typically eat up to 3,000 of these little beasties in one evenings dining, and with bat populations under threat worldwide, the little mammals get fed and the chances of your holiday being ruined by mozzie bites are greatly reduced by hanging up a bat box or two, and you can feel like you've done something good for the environment. A stock image of mosquitoes. Pic: Shutterstock
However, if you are heading further afield, like Asia, then beware the 'Lovebugs'. They sound all cuddly and warm, but there's currently a plague of these little flying insects tormenting the residents of South Korea and further afield. They swarm like locusts, and pictures are emerging on social media of hikers in the mountains in South Korea absolutely covered in the bugs.
They don't bite or cause disease, but they have caused quite a stir, blanketing mountain peaks, swarming into homes and offices, and covering car windscreens in a squirming, fluttering sheet of insects.
They fly in twos, attached to one another while mating, hence the name Lovebugs, and they have also been nicknamed The Honeymoon Flies. Lovebugs found in Seoul, Korea in 2024. Pic: Yonhap/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
South Korean officials see the lovebugs as beneficial insects, saying they help pollinate flowers, but many other experts say the arrival of the bugs in such large numbers, most likely from China, is linked to hotter and wetter climate conditions, linked to climate change.
Other, more obvious little critters to watch out for in sunnier climes are wasps and hornets, bees and fire ants, all of these can inflict painful stings and cause a lot of pain, especially in people who may have a sensitivity to these small bites or stings. The French Pyrenees. Pic: Shutterstock
Best advice if you're heading to a warmer climate, especially if you're planning on doing a lot of hiking or mountain walking, is to go prepared for all sorts of bugs, wear light, loose fitting clothes, long sleeves, long trousers, use insect repellant, and be very mindful of still water in ponds or lakes, and remember dusk is peak time for the little critters to be about.