25.06.29.Today News : Lovebugs Cover Incheon’s Gyeyang Mountain
Lovebugs Cover Incheon’s Gyeyang Mountain, Triggering Public Discomfort
- Hundreds of complaints reported daily as swarms of non-toxic flies invade mountain trails and homes
Swarms of lovebugs, known scientifically as Plecia nearctica, have overrun Gyeyang Mountain in Incheon’s Gyeyang District, leaving residents and hikers frustrated. Images and videos of roads, stairs, and trails blanketed with dead insects have gone viral online, leading to a surge in civil complaints.
On June 29, videos and posts began flooding social media showing clouds of lovebugs swarming Gyeyang Mountain to such an extent that visibility was impacted. Many hikers likened the scene to an insect “invasion” and expressed fear of breathing or walking through the dense bugs.
One video showed a resident attempting to fight off the bugs using an electric flyswatter and dustpan, only to fail. “Human resistance is futile,” the uploader wrote. “Even breathing became scary.”
Photos of the summit show the ground entirely covered in lovebug carcasses, appearing like a layer of asphalt. Netizens reacted with comments like “This is a disaster” and “Feels like a bug war zone.”
Originally native to southeastern China and Okinawa, lovebugs were first spotted in Korea around 2022. Their population has rapidly expanded throughout the Seoul metropolitan area, including Incheon, where they are now a common sight in early summer.
While the bugs are not harmful — they don’t bite, sting, or carry disease — their tendency to swarm in large numbers and die in public spaces has led to their classification as a “nuisance insect.” They can also cause car damage if not cleaned off quickly.
Incheon has become one of the hardest-hit areas. Last year, local health centers received around 150 reports by early July. This year, the city is logging up to 100 complaints a day.
Experts predict that the current surge will subside around mid-July. The insects are vulnerable to sunlight and tend to die off naturally within one to two weeks.
To manage lovebugs at home or outdoors, residents are advised to:
- Keep nighttime lighting minimal
- Check window screens for gaps
- Wear dark clothing outdoors
- Wash cars frequently
- Install sticky traps
- Spray bugs off walls and windows with water
