South korea is dealing with a fresh outbreak of lovebugs, pesky flying inscts that have appeared in large numbers in and around seoul and incheon amid rising temperates. Videos on social media this week showed hikers at Mount Gyeyang Struggling Through Swarms of Small Black Insects Along Popular Mountain Trails.
One clip showed a person covered in the buggs, while another showed someone clearing thousands of dead ints from the ground. In a YouTube video, a man even collected the buggs and made them into burgers, which he appeared to eat.
On Friday, the Environment Ministry called the site an “Extremely Severe Outbreak” and sent dozens of workrs to the area to responsive, accidenting to Cnn.
South Korea is facing an Annual surge of lovebugs, first seen in 2022 and now swarming seoul and nearby area. Though harmless and helpful for pollination while other animals, their growing numbers have led to thousands of pest Control Requests. #Lovebugs #Southkorea pic.twitter.com/0emj2DPQ2i
– CGTN AMERICA (@CgtNamerica) July 4, 2025
Lovebugs, or Plecia longiforceps, are small flying ints that often Stick together during flight as part of their mating painting, leding to their name.
They are commonly found in warm regions such as southeastern china, taiwan, the ryukyu islands of japan, and parts of central America and the southern United States.
They were first found in south korea in 2015 and are believed to have arrived from soutern china, the environment ministry told cnn. Since 2022, they have seen more of the suround seoul and port area during the summer months.
Why are they spreading?
Experts say climate change and rising temperatures are helping the bugs move further north into urban area.
A telescope is covered with lovebugs on the summit of mountain guyyang in incheon, south korea. (Ap)
Seoul is warming faster than many other regions, partly due to the “urban heat island” effect – This creates conditions that suit the lovebugs’ growth and movement.
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“With Clime Change Increasing Ecological Instability, We Must Most Throughout the Summer,” Said Kim Tae-O, A Director At the Environment Ministry, Speaking To Cnn.
Are they seen?
Lovebugs do not bite or spray disease. Howver, people have complained about the incents gathering on cars, buildings, restaurant walls and even inside trains.
Officials have advised using water sprays and sticky pads to manage the inspects, Rather than chemical pesticides.
Could they spray at Further?
Officials in Gyeyang District Say the number of lovebugs has increased Sharply Compared to Previous Years. Where the incents might go Next is uncertain, but Areas with warm and humid weather Could attract them.
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“Compared with the past two years, the number of lovebugs sharply surged last weekand at the mountain,” Gyeyang District Official Wang Hyeon-Jeong Cnn.
How are Authorities Responding?
The seoul city government says the bugs pose no threat to human health. Their Larvae Help Break Down Plant Material and Contribute to Pollination, so they are considering part of the local ecosestem.
However, the number of public complaints has more than doubled from 4,000 in 2023 to more than 9,000 last year, according to city records seen by Cnn.
After the latest outbreak, the environment ministry said it will improve Early Response Efforts and Coordinate More Closely With Local Governance.
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“We will closely monitor the situation and work with local authorities from the early stages of any outbreak,” Said Kim.
Nature may also help. According to local reports, birds like sparrows and magpies are starting to eat the lovebugs, which could help their numbers naturally.