In the city center, lovebugs (red-tipped flies) are on the rise, and the Ministry of Environment has embarked on pest control for the unusually massive occurrence of lovebugs in the Incheon Gye-yang Mountain area.
According to the Ministry of Environment, 37 employees from its headquarters and affiliated agencies were dispatched to the Gye-yang Mountain site that day. They plan to conduct pest control operations using blowers, insect nets, and spraying equipment, alongside about 10 personnel from the Gye-yang District Office. They also plan to collect lovebug carcasses.
Three additional lovebug light attraction devices will be deployed. Lovebugs have a tendency to be drawn to light. On the 2nd, four light collection devices were installed at Gye-yang Mountain, and the attraction and collection effect was confirmed.
In addition to these on-site activities, the Ministry of Environment plans to strengthen the collaborative response system with local governments in preparation for other insect outbreaks. Since last year, a collaborative system involving the Ministry of Environment, Seoul City, and the National Institute of Biological Resources has been in operation, and it plans to include relevant local governments such as Incheon City and Gyeonggi Province, and if necessary, engage in discussions with adjacent local governments. Investment in medium- to long-term research and development will also increase.
Kim Tae-oh, director of the Ministry of Environment's Natural Conservation Bureau, noted, "This year's insect outbreak situation is very serious, and due to the impact of climate change, there is an increasing trend of ecological uncertainty, so we cannot let our guard down during this summer period."
He added, "We will closely monitor the occurrence situation and cooperate with local governments from the onset if an outbreak occurs, actively supporting the personnel, equipment, and emergency pest control budget from the Ministry of Environment."
Meanwhile, the previous day, Yoon Hwan, the head of the Gye-yang District Office, mentioned during a three-year anniversary meeting, "For pests, we perform sterilization work, but since they are beneficial insects that improve the soil, we couldn't respond vigorously. I think the citizens should also tolerate this to some extent," which sparked controversy.