Latest news with #PleciaNearctica
France 24
09-07-2025
- Science
- France 24
Rotten insects, viral videos and climate change: S.Korea battles 'lovebug' invasion
First identified in South Korea a decade ago, Seoul is now annually hit by a weeks-long infestation of the Plecia nearctica insect, a type of March fly nicknamed "lovebug" for their distinctive mating behaviour, which sees them fly around in coupled pairs. Huge clouds of the insects, which are harmless to humans, blanket apartment walls and mountain trails and, after they quickly die, leave behind piles of rotting black remains and a foul stench. Complaints about the bugs, which scientists believe came from southern China and have surged with rising temperatures linked to climate change, have risen sharply, Seoul city data showed. Even K-pop BTS idol RM is seen seemingly cursing upon spotting the insects in a viral video, with fellow bandmember Jin separately seen casually blowing a lovebug out of his way mid-performance. "In general, many insects tend to grow more rapidly in warmer temperatures," Ju Jung-won, a deputy researcher at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, told AFP. "As for the lovebugs, it looks like the temperature and environment found in foreign regions where they are active are now taking hold in South Korea as well, allowing them to survive here." At the peak of Gyeyangsan Mountain in Incheon, west of Seoul, public servants wearing makeshift protective gear struggled to clear piles of dead insects, as vast swarms of the bugs circled in the air, making it hard for people in the area to keep their eyes open. At their worst, the piles of dead lovebugs in parts of the mountain were "stacked more than 10 centimetres (four inches) high," said Jung Yong-sun, 59, who was tasked with pest-control duties. Walking through them, he added, "felt like stepping on something soft and cushiony." The unpleasant odour took many by surprise. "At first, I thought it was food waste... Turns out, it was the stench of dead bugs," said Ahn So-young, a 29-year-old hiker. "I cried when I came up here. I was so scared." 'Really delicious' Park Sun-jae, a senior researcher at the National Institute of Biological Resources, told AFP that the bugs were first reported in South Korea in Incheon in 2015. "Since 2022, the population has begun to surge," Park said, adding that they were now "found throughout the greater Seoul metropolitan area". This year, the infestation has been widely documented online, with content creators flocking to the worst-affected areas to cash in on the inundation. One YouTuber collected a massive pile of the bugs and turned them into a "burger patty", mixing them into batter before frying and eating them on camera. "It's not bad. It's really delicious," he said in the video, which has garnered more than 648,000 views. On Gyeyangsan Mountain, content creators Kim Ji-young and Sam Jung intentionally dressed in white — a colour known to attract the bugs — and filmed themselves being swarmed. "This is probably something I'll never experience again in my lifetime," Jung said, as his hat and clothes were crawling with the bugs. Beneficial insects? But for many Seoul residents, the bugs aren't just a viral moment. They are disrupting daily routines. In Daejo Market in Seoul's Eunpyeong district, restaurant owners had to constantly blow the bugs away to protect their ingredients. Dead insects kept piling up on the floor -- putting severe pressure to the cleaners' workload. "I want to be able to eat lunch without worrying about lovebugs landing on my face or getting into my food," business owner Chang Seo-young, 48, told AFP. Lovebugs -— seen by South Korean officials as "beneficial insects" for breaking down plant matter —- typically disappear naturally by early July. But scientists warn that given the unpredictability of the climate crisis, the possibility of insect species -- including ones more harmful than lovebugs -- invading the country cannot be ruled out. "I worry that future generations will have to suffer so much," said Jeon In-hyeop, a 29-year-old visitor to Gyeyangsan Mountain, after surveying parts of the summit covered in bugs. © 2025 AFP
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
The insect that's making a community's lives a misery
Swarms of "lovebugs" (Plecia nearctica) have descended upon South Korea, causing widespread public complaints due to their sheer numbers. These insects, which fly attached while mating, were first detected in Seoul in 2022 and have since proliferated, appearing primarily between late June and early July. While lovebugs pose no health risk, they are a significant nuisance, sticking to car windows, houses, restaurants, and even subway trains. A dramatic surge in their population was seen recently on Gyeyang Mountain, where they formed a "thick carpet" and swarmed observation decks. South Korean officials view lovebugs as beneficial insects, aiding pollination, and are using non-chemical methods to manage them, though experts link their increased presence to climate change.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Mating ‘lovebugs' swarm city, plaguing residents
Swarms of "lovebugs" have descended upon South Korea, blanketing a mountain peak, infiltrating homes, and sticking to car windows, prompting a surge in public complaints. These insects, scientifically known as Plecia nearctica, are distinctive for flying attached to one another while mating, earning them monikers such as united bugs, double-headed bugs, or honeymoon flies. First detected in parts of Seoul in 2022, the lovebugs have since proliferated, with large groups now appearing throughout the capital and surrounding areas, primarily between late June and early July each year. While the insects pose no health risk, as they do not transmit diseases or sting humans, their sheer numbers have become a significant nuisance. Public grievances have mounted over the bugs sticking to car windows, the walls of houses, restaurants, and even subway trains. The scale of the infestation was vividly illustrated recently on Gyeyang Mountain in Incheon city, just west of Seoul, where clouds of lovebugs hovered over the peak. One man told local media how the mountain was "covered with bugs" that formed a "thick carpet". Local television stations showed scenes of observation decks swarming with the insects, with workers constantly shovelling dead bugs from the ground. Wang Hyeon-jeong, an official from the Gyeyang district, confirmed the dramatic increase, stating on Tuesday: "Compared with the past two years, the number of lovebugs sharply surged last weekend at the mountain." The 395-meter (1,295-feet) mountain provides the type of hot, humid weather conditions in which lovebugs typically thrive, the Environment Ministry said, possibly leading to the insect population surge. In Seoul and other areas, it is not yet clear whether there have been more lovebugs than in previous years. The ministry said it will review the seriousness of this year's case after the insects disappear, likely by mid-July. South Korean officials view lovebugs as beneficial insects, saying they help pollinate flowers as their larvae convert plant materials into organic components. Officials are avoiding chemical pesticides by using sticky pads and spraying water to cope with the large insect population. Many experts say the flow of lovebugs to South Korea, likely from China, is associated with the country's warming temperature and is linked to climate change.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
South Korea struggles to grapple with invasion of ‘lovebugs'
Swarms of "lovebugs" have descended upon South Korea, blanketing a mountain peak, infiltrating homes, and sticking to car windows, prompting a surge in public complaints. These insects, scientifically known as Plecia nearctica, are distinctive for flying attached to one another while mating, earning them monikers such as united bugs, double-headed bugs, or honeymoon flies. First detected in parts of Seoul in 2022, the lovebugs have since proliferated, with large groups now appearing throughout the capital and surrounding areas, primarily between late June and early July each year. While the insects pose no health risk, as they do not transmit diseases or sting humans, their sheer numbers have become a significant nuisance. Public grievances have mounted over the bugs sticking to car windows, the walls of houses, restaurants, and even subway trains. The scale of the infestation was vividly illustrated recently on Gyeyang Mountain in Incheon city, just west of Seoul, where clouds of lovebugs hovered over the peak. One man told local media how the mountain was "covered with bugs" that formed a "thick carpet". Local television stations showed scenes of observation decks swarming with the insects, with workers constantly shovelling dead bugs from the ground. Wang Hyeon-jeong, an official from the Gyeyang district, confirmed the dramatic increase, stating on Tuesday: "Compared with the past two years, the number of lovebugs sharply surged last weekend at the mountain." The 395-meter (1,295-feet) mountain provides the type of hot, humid weather conditions in which lovebugs typically thrive, the Environment Ministry said, possibly leading to the insect population surge. In Seoul and other areas, it is not yet clear whether there have been more lovebugs than in previous years. The ministry said it will review the seriousness of this year's case after the insects disappear, likely by mid-July. South Korean officials view lovebugs as beneficial insects, saying they help pollinate flowers as their larvae convert plant materials into organic components. Officials are avoiding chemical pesticides by using sticky pads and spraying water to cope with the large insect population. Many experts say the flow of lovebugs to South Korea, likely from China, is associated with the country's warming temperature and is linked to climate change.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
'Lovebugs' return in swarms to South Korea and blanket a mountain peak
Swarms of 'lovebugs' are back in South Korea, blanketing a mountain peak, entering houses and sticking to car windows. Flying attached to one another while mating, the insects, known to scientists as Plecia nearctica, are also called united bugs, double-headed bugs or honeymoon flies. Lovebugs were first detected in parts of Seoul in 2022. Now, large groups appear throughout the city and some nearby areas, mainly between late June and early July each year. The insects do not transmit diseases or sting humans, but there have been increasing public complaints about lovebugs sticking to car windows and the walls of houses, restaurants and subway trains. Clouds of lovebugs recently hovered over the peak of Gyeyang Mountain in Incheon city, just west of Seoul. The lovebugs swarmed observation decks as workers constantly shoveled dead insects from the ground, according to videos shown on local TV stations. 'Compared with the past two years, the number of lovebugs sharply surged last weekend at the mountain,' Gyeyang district official Wang Hyeon-jeong said Tuesday. Authorities do not know why the mountain has seen more lovebugs than usual this summer, she added. The 395-meter (1,295-feet) mountain provides the type of hot, humid weather conditions in which lovebugs typically thrive, the Environment Ministry said, possibly leading to the insect population surge. In Seoul and other areas, it is not yet clear whether there have been more lovebugs than in previous years. The ministry said it will review the seriousness of this year's case after the insects disappear, likely by mid-July. South Korean officials view lovebugs as beneficial insects, saying they help pollinate flowers as their larvae convert plant materials into organic components. Officials are avoiding chemical pesticides by using sticky pads and spraying water to cope with the large insect population. Many experts say the flow of lovebugs to South Korea, likely from China, is associated with the country's warming temperature and is linked to climate change.
