Mt. Gyeyang in Incheon is being transformed into a large-scale pest control testing ground as lovebugs (Plecia longiforceps), which swarmed the Seoul metropolitan area last year, are projected to appear earlier and in greater numbers this year.
According to the Incheon Metropolitan Government and environmental authorities on the 15th, the National Institute of Biological Resources plans to install 100 specialized devices around the summit of Mt. Gyeyang by early next month to attract and capture lovebugs. The traps use aromatic compounds to release scents that attract adult lovebugs before capturing them. The deployment was initially considered at 30 units, but the scale was expanded more than threefold in light of last year's population surge.
In addition, two large high-altitude collection devices, each 3 meters tall and weighing 200 kilograms, will be deployed. The equipment uses strong lights to attract lovebugs before suctioning them in, and helicopter deployment is being considered to install them at the summit. The Incheon city government is in discussions with private operators on transporting the equipment and materials by air using the Mt. Gyeyang helipad.
"300 Larvae Per Square Meter"…All-Out Eco-Friendly Control Effort Against Larvae Covering the Summit
Lovebugs do not bite humans or transmit diseases, but they swarm in large numbers toward lights, causing significant discomfort throughout urban areas, walking paths, and hiking trails. Their populations have surged in the metropolitan area since 2022, making them a major summer nuisance.
Last June, the summit and hiking trails of Mt. Gyeyang were covered with swarms of insects, with citizens complaining that "bugs get into our eyes and mouths" and that "hiking is impossible." Related complaints filed with Gyeyang District jumped from 62 in 2024 to 472 last year, the highest among Incheon's 10 districts and counties.
A recent field survey confirmed approximately 300 larvae per square meter in areas above 300 meters in elevation. In response, the National Institute of Biological Resources, the National Institute of Forest Science, and the Incheon city government conducted a pilot test to reduce populations at the larval stage by spraying microbial-based eco-friendly control agents over an 8,100-square-meter area around the summit. Going forward, the authorities plan to deploy additional spraying drones and sticky traps, and to carry out separate cleanup operations to dispose of carcasses that accumulate after mass outbreaks.
"Warm Spring Brought Earlier Emergence"…Concentration Likely During Specific Period
The National Institute of Forest Science issued its first official forecast on lovebug emergence this year, identifying the peak period as June 15 to June 29. Activity is expected to be most intense around June 24. The emergence is roughly two days earlier than last year, while the duration is projected to be shorter, leading analysts to expect a more concentrated outbreak during a specific window.
The forecast was derived from observation records on Naturing, a citizen observation platform, along with temperature data from the Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon areas over the past three years. Experts believe higher-than-average temperatures this spring accelerated larval growth, bringing forward the emergence of adults.
Lovebugs are classified as beneficial insects that decompose fallen leaves to enrich soil and help regulate populations of some small pests. While they pose no direct harm to humans, mass outbreaks cause significant inconvenience to residents. Authorities expect the results of this year's Mt. Gyeyang control experiment to serve as a benchmark for response measures across the metropolitan area.
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