A 36-year-old Seoul resident surnamed An was enjoying a walk in a local park on June 21. when she sat on a bench and screamed, “Ew!” The stone base of the bench was covered with an unidentifiable black mass. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was crawling with hundreds of bugs. The Seoul metropolitan area is currently experiencing a significant outbreak of lovebugs (Plecia longiforceps), scientifically known as Plecia nearctica.
Lovebugs are named for their habit of flying together and mating for up to three days. Although they belong to the fly family, they are not considered pests. They are neither poisonous nor do they bite or transmit diseases. In fact, they are beneficial insects that help pollinate flowers and decompose fallen leaves. There are 12 species of lovebugs native to Korea, but they also thrive in Central and South America and the southeastern United States. In Florida, the period when lovebugs are most abundant is known as ‘lovebug season.’ The National Institute of Biological Resources is conducting genetic analysis to determine if the lovebugs in Seoul are native or invasive.
Lovebugs are relatively large, measuring about 1.5 centimeters in length when males and females are joined. They have a reddish thorax and large wings, which can make them appear similar to flies or cockroaches. When coupled, they resemble creatures with two heads and 12 legs.
Citizens have expressed frustration with the outbreak. “When I take the bus to work, there are lovebugs all over my clothes and in my hair,” said Kim Kyung-hee (29), an office worker. “They constantly jump on me, interfering with my work,” added Mr. Jung (53, who runs a car maintenance business in Seoul. The acidic bodily fluids of lovebugs can corrode car paint and cause mechanical failures, including engine problems.
Ms. Jang (48), who was at a golf course in Paju, Gyeonggi-do, on June 22. said the bugs ruined her game. “Initially, I thought it was just one or two annoying bugs, but later, every time I hit the ball, they attacked my eyes, and I couldn’t swing properly,” she said. The greens were littered with lovebug carcasses, making it difficult to read the putting line. The roofs of carts and chairs were also infested with lovebugs. Hikers in the Seoul metropolitan area have also reported difficulties, with bugs attacking their skin on every hike. “It’s hard to rest properly because there are bug corpses on every rock,” said a hiker on Bukhansan Mountain on June. 21.
University students living in dormitories are also experiencing significant discomfort. Lee Tae-yeol, 23, a public administration major residing in a dormitory at Yonsei University, said, “Every morning, 200 to 300 lovebug corpses pile up in the bathroom,” adding, “Even if we block the door, they still get in through the window frame and even the insect screen.”
Additionally, daycare centers and kindergartens are on high alert. Parents at a daycare center in Misa district of Hanam City, Gyeonggi-do, have bought electric mosquito swatters for their children to use whenever they go out to ward off the bugs. One parent said, “My child has atopic dermatitis, so I’m worried that if the bugs come in contact with his skin, it will worsen his symptoms.”
