Latest news with #Plecianearctica
The Star
3 days ago
- Science
- The Star
South Korea launches emergency response to battle lovebug outbreak
The Environment Ministry is working alongside local officials from the Gyeyang District Office, deploying equipment such as blowers, insect nets and water sprayers in a full-scale pest control operation. - AFP SEOUL: Hundreds of Instagram posts and YouTube videos have recently spotlighted a growing nuisance across South Korea: the sudden and severe outbreak of lovebugs. To contain what is quickly becoming a 'crisis', the Environment Ministry launched an urgent pest control operation on Friday (July 4) in Incheon's Gyeyang Mountain area, the epicentre of this summer's outbreak. The unprecedented explosion of the insects, officially known as Plecia nearctica, or red-backed march flies, has prompted the government to dispatch 37 personnel. The ministry is working alongside 10 local officials from the Gyeyang District Office, deploying equipment such as blowers, insect nets and water sprayers in a full-scale pest control operation. The authorities are also prioritising the collection of insect carcasses, which are causing foul odours and further discomfort to residents. To enhance control efforts, three additional light-based traps, designed to lure the bugs, were installed in the affected area. These devices, developed and tested by the National Institute of Biological Resources, showed promising results in preliminary field trials earlier this week, the ministry said. With their effectiveness confirmed, the ministry plans to expand the use of these light traps in future outbreaks. The government's long-term strategy goes beyond immediate containment. The Environment Ministry announced plans to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, expanding an existing response system established in 2023 between the ministry, Seoul Metropolitan Government and the National Institute of Biological Resources. The updated framework will now include Incheon, Gyeonggi province and other nearby municipalities, with additional coordination among local governments if necessary. A 24-hour emergency response team has also been activated, and an advisory panel of entomologists and ecologists is working to ensure the swift application of the latest scientific findings to on-site responses. Officials are preparing for future outbreaks of other pests likely to thrive under the changing climate, including stick insects, Asian mayflies, citrus flatid planthoppers and non-biting midges. A major policy shift is also under way. Currently, insects like lovebugs are not legally classified as pests under national regulations, limiting funding and coordination efforts. The ministry is now reviewing legal reforms to officially designate such insects 'managed species', which would streamline support for local governments and facilitate faster deployment of control measures. 'The situation this year is particularly serious, and climate change is intensifying ecosystem volatility,' said Kim Tae-oh, director general of the nature conservation bureau at the Environment Ministry. 'We will closely monitor outbreaks and act swiftly in coordination with local governments, while offering full support with manpower, equipment and emergency budgets.' - The Korea Herald/ANN
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
South Korea launches emergency response to battle lovebug outbreak
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox To contain what's quickly becoming a 'crisis', the Environment Ministry launched an urgent pest control operation on July 4. SEOUL - Hundreds of Instagram posts and YouTube videos have recently spotlighted a growing nuisance across South Korea: the sudden and severe outbreak of lovebugs. To contain what's quickly becoming a 'crisis', the Environment Ministry launched an urgent pest control operation on July 4 in Incheon's Gyeyang Mountain area, the epicentre of this summer's outbreak. The unprecedented explosion of the insects, officially known as Plecia nearctica or red-backed march flies, has prompted the government to dispatch 37 personnel. The ministry is working alongside 10 local officials from the Gyeyang District Office, deploying equipment such as blowers, insect nets and water sprayers in a full-scale pest control operation. Authorities are also prioritising the collection of insect carcasses, which are causing foul odors and further discomfort to residents. To enhance control efforts, three additional light-based traps, designed to lure the bugs, were installed in the affected area. These devices, developed and tested by the National Institute of Biological Resources, showed promising results in preliminary field trials earlier this week, the ministry said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Seller's stamp duty rates for private homes raised; holding period increased from 3 years to 4 Singapore Multiple charges for man accused of damaging PAP campaign materials on GE2025 Polling Day Asia Japan urges evacuation of small island as 1,000 quakes hit region World Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending Bill wins congressional approval World Trump eyes simple tariff rates over complex talks, says letters will start going out on July 4 Sport A true fans' player – Liverpool supporters in Singapore pay tribute to late Diogo Jota Singapore Jail for man who recruited 2 Japanese women for prostitution at MBS Business More Singapore residents met CPF Required Retirement Sum when they turned 55 in 2024 With their effectiveness confirmed, the ministry plans to expand the use of these light traps in future outbreaks. The government's long-term strategy goes beyond immediate containment. The Environment Ministry announced plans to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, expanding an existing response system established in 2023 between the ministry, Seoul Metropolitan Government and the National Institute of Biological Resources. The updated framework will now include Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and other nearby municipalities, with additional coordination among local governments if necessary. A 24-hour emergency response team has also been activated, and an advisory panel of entomologists and ecologists is working to ensure the swift application of the latest scientific findings to on-site responses. Officials are preparing for future outbreaks of other pests likely to thrive under the changing climate, including stick insects, Asian mayflies, citrus flatid planthoppers and nonbiting midges. A major policy shift is also underway. Currently, insects like lovebugs are not legally classified as pests under national regulations, limiting funding and coordination efforts. The ministry is now reviewing legal reforms to officially designate such insects 'managed species', which would streamline support for local governments and facilitate faster deployment of control measures. 'The situation this year is particularly serious, and climate change is intensifying ecosystem volatility,' said Mr Kim Tae-oh, director general of the nature conservation bureau at the Environment Ministry. 'We will closely monitor outbreaks and act swiftly in coordination with local governments, while offering full support with manpower, equipment and emergency budgets.' THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Science
- Korea Herald
South Korea launches emergency response to battle lovebug outbreak
Hundreds of Instagram posts and YouTube videos have recently spotlighted a growing nuisance across South Korea: the sudden and severe outbreak of lovebugs. To contain what's quickly becoming a "crisis," the Environment Ministry launched an urgent pest control operation Friday in Incheon's Gyeyang Mountain area, the epicenter of this summer's outbreak. The unprecedented explosion of the insects, officially known as Plecia nearctica or red-backed march flies, has prompted the government to dispatch 37 personnel. The ministry is working alongside 10 local officials from the Gyeyang District Office, deploying equipment such as blowers, insect nets and water sprayers in a full-scale pest control operation. Authorities are also prioritizing the collection of insect carcasses, which are causing foul odors and further discomfort to residents. To enhance control efforts, three additional light-based traps, designed to lure the bugs, were installed in the affected area. These devices, developed and tested by the National Institute of Biological Resources, showed promising results in preliminary field trials earlier this week, the ministry said. With their effectiveness confirmed, the ministry plans to expand the use of these light traps in future outbreaks. The government's long-term strategy goes beyond immediate containment. The Environment Ministry announced plans to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, expanding an existing response system established in 2023 between the ministry, Seoul Metropolitan Government and the National Institute of Biological Resources. The updated framework will now include Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and other nearby municipalities, with additional coordination among local governments if necessary. A 24-hour emergency response team has also been activated, and an advisory panel of entomologists and ecologists is working to ensure the swift application of the latest scientific findings to on-site responses. Officials are preparing for future outbreaks of other pests likely to thrive under the changing climate, including stick insects, Asian mayflies, citrus flatid planthoppers and nonbiting midges. A major policy shift is also underway. Currently, insects like lovebugs are not legally classified as pests under national regulations, limiting funding and coordination efforts. The ministry is now reviewing legal reforms to officially designate such insects 'managed species,' which would streamline support for local governments and facilitate faster deployment of control measures. 'The situation this year is particularly serious, and climate change is intensifying ecosystem volatility,' said Kim Tae-oh, director general of the nature conservation bureau at the Environment Ministry. 'We will closely monitor outbreaks and act swiftly in coordination with local governments, while offering full support with manpower, equipment and emergency budgets.'
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Korea Herald
Lovebug invasion: Are they truly harmless?
'Do something': Patience wearing thin amid surge of seasonal bugs supposedly beneficial to nature Once again, the annual war with lovebugs, or Plecia nearctica, has begun. The slopes of Gyeyangsan in Incheon have recently been blanketed with warms of lovebugs. Their carcasses have piled up so densely on the trails and stairways that the ground is barely visible. Posts about a massive surge of lovebugs on the mountain flooded online communities over the weekend, with videos showing swarms of the insects clinging to hikers' hats, clothing, and backpacks. 'There were dead lovebugs all over the ground, but what made it worse were the swarms flying in my face. I could hardly see or breathe. Hiking felt like going into battle,' one user wrote on X. Kim Jae-woong, a hiker in his 30s from Bupyeong, Incheon, who visited the mountain on Saturday, told The Korea Herald that the summit was "completely covered with bugs." People who reached the summit had to rush back down as quickly as possible due to the insects, he said. In a video shared by Kim, lovebugs are seen swarming and clinging to his upper body, and he tries to fend them off with an electric mosquito net. In another clip, the ground around a rest bench for hikers is covered with numerous dead lovebugs which resemble piles of dirt. Kim was even able to scoop up a handful of the bugs with a small shovel. Once mainly found in southeastern China and Okinawa, Japan, lovebugs have been appearing in large numbers across Seoul since 2022. Called "lovebugs" for their habit of flying in mating pairs while searching for food, they favor hot and humid conditions and are usually observed from late June to mid-July. This year, however, they began emerging as early as mid-June, amid unusually high temperatures and earlier than usual heavy rains. Lovebugs are considered beneficial insects, aiding in flower pollination, and serving as a major food source for fish, birds, and other insects. Feeding on dew and nectar, they neither bite people nor transmit illnesses. Despite their seemingly harmless nature, the summer bugs have become a public nuisance as their large swarms not only appear disturbing but also disrupt foot traffic. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the city received 9,296 complaints about lovebugs last year, nearly double the 4,418 cases reported the year before. Seong, 29, who lives in Eunpyeong-gu near Bukhansan — an area known for its high concentration of lovebugs — told The Korea Herald, 'The humid weather is already stressful, and the lovebugs make it worse. They don't bite, but they constantly fly at people. I walk faster outside these days. If this isn't a pest, what is?' Although sentiment is growing that lovebugs are more of a nuisance than a benefit, local governments and environmental groups are promoting coexistence over pesticide use, stressing the insects' 'two-week' lifespan. Adult male lovebugs live for about three to four days, while females survive for up to a week. Each female can lay between 200 and 300 eggs at a time, but because of the low survival rate, their population tends to drop sharply about two weeks after they appear in large numbers. Some experts have raised concerns that targeting lovebugs with chemical controls could harm ecological balance. "Spraying pesticides can also kill natural predators of lovebugs, such as mantises and spiders. When prey increases, predators follow, so the lovebug population will naturally decrease over time," said Lee Dong-kyu, a professor of environmental health at Kosin University. He also pointed out that pyrethroid-based insecticides, which are frequently used in pest control, may be harmful to humans as they've been associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
