The Ministry of Environment (Minister Kim Wansup) announced on July 4 that it will provide on-site response personnel and equipment for control and carcass disposal at Gyeyang Mountain in Incheon Metropolitan City, where severe public inconvenience is occurring due to a massive outbreak of the lovebug (Plecia longiforceps).

The lovebug is an invasive species presumed to have originated from southern China. Since it was first identified in Korea in 2015, there have been massive outbreaks annually from June to July, mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, starting in 2022. This year, in particular, an unusually large outbreak has occurred at Gyeyang Mountain in Incheon, necessitating urgent support.

On this day, 37 personnel from the Ministry of Environment, including staff from the headquarters and affiliated agencies (National Institute of Biological Resources, Han River Basin Environmental Office, National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention), were deployed to support the site at Gyeyang Mountain. They will collaborate with around 10 pest control workers from the Gyeyang-gu District Office to carry out control operations using blowers, insect nets, and spraying equipment. Considering that the carcasses of lovebugs left on-site are causing foul odors and inconveniencing residents, they plan to focus heavily on large-scale removal efforts.

In addition, three additional units of light source trapping equipment, developed based on the lovebug’s tendency to be attracted to light, will be deployed on-site. Prior to this, on July 2, the National Institute of Biological Resources under the Ministry of Environment had urgently installed four units of the light source trapping equipment undergoing field testing at Gyeyang Mountain. The operation con.firmed that the equipment was effective in attracting and trapping lovebugs.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment plans to strengthen its response system in coordination with local governments, as the possibility of mass outbreaks of other insects this year cannot be ruled out. In addition to the lovebug, insects such as stick insects, Oriental mayflies, citrus flatid planthopper, and midges also have the potential for mass outbreaks after July. The existing Ministry of Environment-Seoul Metropolitan Government-National Institute of Biological Resources Cooperation System, which has been in operation since last year, will be expanded to include Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, and relevant local governments, and, if necessary, adjacent municipalities. The Ministry has also established a 24-hour task force and plans to apply the latest research findings in the field early through the participation of an expert advisory group.

The Ministry also plans to increase mid- to long-term R&D investments related to mass insect outbreaks. It will expand R&D on AI-based prediction and control technology for mass insect outbreaks to study how climate crisis-induced ecological changes affect insect habitats. In addition, focused investment will be made in technologies and equipment to develop eco-friendly and species-specific control methods. Furthermore, the government will begin compiling a list of insect species likely to appear in Korea due to climate change and will initiate full-scale research on their characteristics and control measures.

Institutional measures will also be established to manage insects that cause significant inconvenience to the public. Currently, there is no legal basis for managing mass outbreak insects such as the lovebug, making it difficult to provide budget support to local governments and secure funding for technology development. To address this, the government plans to designate legally managed species and develop systematic response measures through discussions with experts, local governments, and civil society organizations.

Kim Tae-oh, Director General of the Nature Conservation Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, stated, “This year’s mass insect outbreak situation is very serious, and with the increasing ecological uncertainty caused by climate change, we cannot afford to let our guard down this summer.” He added, “We will closely monitor outbreak trends, respond in cooperation with local governments from the early stages of any mass occurrence, and actively support with Ministry personnel, equipment, and emergency control funding.”

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