Gyeyangsan Mountain's Tight Defense Strategy Keeps 'Lovebugs' at Bay During Peak Season

"Last year, piles of dead lovebugs created a foul stench, but this year is different."

On the morning of June 24, predicted to be the peak activity period for the *Plecia nearctica*, commonly known as the "lovebug," the entrance to the hiking trail at Gyeyangsan Mountain in Incheon greeted hikers with the subtle scent of adhesive from yellow "sticky traps."

Insects, including lovebugs, were stuck firmly to the traps, which were densely installed all the way to the 395-meter-high summit of Gyeyangsan Mountain.

While a few pairs of lovebugs could be seen flying about, their presence was minimal.

This is a stark contrast to last June, when hiking trails and tree trunks were completely covered in black swarms of lovebugs, causing severe discomfort and distress to citizens.

In Gyeyang-gu, the district that encompasses Gyeyangsan Mountain, complaints related to lovebugs surged from 62 in 2024 to 472 last year, marking the highest number of complaints among all districts and counties in Incheon.

This year, authorities have implemented extensive eco-friendly pest control measures to suppress a mass outbreak, establishing a rigorous defense network against the insects.

Banners were hung throughout the hiking trails, reading, "We are conducting field tests to reduce the lovebug population" and "Drone spraying area, access temporarily restricted."

Around the summit, various control devices were in place, including two 3-meter-tall high-altitude collectors, seven small collectors, 100 attractant-based traps, eight suction devices, and 20 adult emergence traps.

Four forest protection officers from Gyeyang-gu continued their pest control work, sweating profusely despite the daytime high temperature reaching 29°C (84°F).

One forest protection officer said, "We are drawing water from a tank at the summit to spray the area or applying eco-friendly pesticides," adding, "We are also replacing the sticky traps frequently."

Hikers, who were relaxing at the summit of Gyeyangsan Mountain, expressed satisfaction with the much more pleasant forest environment compared to last year.

A hiker in his 60s remarked, "Last year, lovebugs were piled up along the trails, and the smell of their decaying bodies was enough to kill my appetite. This year, there are almost none."

A 50-year-old woman surnamed Na, who visited the mountain with her husband, said, "I didn't even realize the few insects flying around were lovebugs," adding, "I had no trouble hiking at all."

Previously, a research team from the Division of Forest Insect Pests and Diseases at the National Institute of Forest Science predicted that the main activity period for lovebugs this year would be from June 15 to 29, with the peak occurring on June 24.

However, some suggest that since lovebug appearances in forest areas tend to be slightly delayed compared to urban centers, the situation should be monitored until early next month.

An official from the National Institute of Biological Resources, whom we met near the summit, stated, "We are climbing the mountain every day to check the trends of lovebug emergence," adding, "As the mass outbreak occurred at the end of June last year, we need to remain vigilant."

A Gyeyang-gu official said, "As of June 23, about 40 complaints related to lovebugs have been filed, which is a significant decrease compared to last year," and added, "We have established a day-and-night response system to ensure thorough pest control operations."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.