A large number of reduviid bugs, commonly known as 'love bugs,' have appeared in the area around Gyeongsan Mountain in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon.
On the 29th, many photos and videos showing the explosively increased population of love bugs almost covering Gyeongsan Mountain were posted on various online communities and social media (SNS).
In the videos, the love bugs were flying in swarms to the extent that they obstructed the view. The person filming said, 'The love bug invasion' and noted, 'People who dislike bugs would probably faint if they went up the mountain.'
He used an electric fly swatter to catch the love bugs and also used a dustpan to remove the bodies, but after failing each time, he remarked, 'Human resistance was pointless' and added, 'The electric fly swatter didn't explode, and the small dustpan was too weak.'
An internet user who uploaded photos taken at the summit of Gyeongsan Mountain stated, 'The love bugs have occupied the mountaintop' and described the situation as 'almost at a disaster level.' The photos showed a huge pile of love bug bodies, enough to mistake for an asphalt road.
Incheon has been cited as a region where complaints have significantly increased this year due to the surging love bug population. By early July last year, over 150 requests for love bug pest control had been received from 10 health centers in Incheon, while this year, around 100 complaint calls have been reported in just one day.
Love bugs were first discovered in 2022 in Bongsan, connecting Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul to Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province, but have recently been sighted throughout Seoul and the Gyeonggi area. Love bugs are non-toxic and do not bite humans or transmit diseases. Instead, they help decompose leaf litter, enriching the soil, and assist in the pollination of flowers by honeybees. However, from the perspective of citizens encountering love bugs, they are classified as unpleasant household pests.
Experts predict that the love bug population will sharply decrease around mid-July. This is because they have shown a tendency to reduce in numbers dramatically within 1 to 2 weeks as their activity decreases when exposed to sunlight.
Preventive measures to deal with love bugs at home or outdoors include: ▲ Minimizing nighttime lighting brightness ▲ Checking insect screens ▲ Wearing dark-colored clothing when going out ▲ Frequently washing vehicles to prevent corrosion ▲ Installing sticky traps ▲ Spraying water to remove bugs stuck on walls or windows.