First-Ever Spraying Disinfection in Cooperation with Fire Departments
Lovebug Complaints Increase Across All Districts
"I only opened the window for a moment, and my entire house turned into a paradise for lovebugs."
Kim Heeyoung (31), a resident of Guri, Gyeonggi Province, is waging a war against lovebugs even inside her own home. Until last year, lovebugs were rarely seen in Guri, but their numbers have noticeably increased this year. Kim said, "I think I've seen about 20 to 30 inside my home," and added, "It's frustrating to think that they can even reach the ninth floor of an apartment building."
With the growing population and expanded activity range of lovebugs, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has even deployed fire department water trucks. According to the city on July 4, Seoul has launched its first spraying disinfection operation in cooperation with fire stations. This operation is being prioritized in areas with frequent complaints about nuisance insects, such as parks and walking trails. Although lovebugs are classified as beneficial insects, the city has strengthened eco-friendly pest control in response to complaints that their excessive numbers are causing inconvenience to residents.
In addition, Seoul is conducting pilot projects to control the population of lovebugs, including real-time monitoring, light-based traps, and scent attractants.
As of June this year, 4,695 complaints related to lovebugs have been filed with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. In particular, districts such as Jungnang, Geumcheon, Gwanak, Seocho, and Gangnam have seen more complaints than last year, indicating that the activity range of lovebugs is changing. In 2022 and 2023, when lovebugs first began to spread, complaints were concentrated only in Eunpyeong and Seodaemun districts. However, this year, more than 100 complaints have been filed in 15 different districts.
As a result, some argue that chemical pest control, such as insecticides, is necessary. However, local governments are prioritizing eco-friendly pest control measures to protect the ecosystem. Lee Dongryul, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Citizen Health Bureau, stated, "Seoul will manage nuisance insects in an eco-friendly manner and minimize inconvenience to residents by controlling their numbers through non-chemical methods. We will continue to create a living environment in Seoul where people and insects can coexist."
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