Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
Jongno District deploys eco-friendly traps to combat love bug surge
A public servant conducts a sanitation operation to reduce breeding habitats of love bugs in Jongno District. Courtesy of Jongno District Office
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Jongno District is deploying eco-friendly insect traps and stepping up habitat management to address a surge in love bugs, a flying insect that has been appearing in large numbers across the greater Seoul area.
Love bugs — the common name for Plecia nearctica-type flies in Korea — do not bite humans or transmit disease and are considered beneficial insects. However, mass outbreaks generate significant resident complaints.
Jongno District received 718 love bug-related complaints over the past three years, with most occurring between mid-June and early July. Infestations previously centered on forested areas near Mount Bugak and Mount Inwang, but have recently spread into residential neighborhoods.
Through late July, the district will install 150 sets of eco-friendly attractant traps in parks, green zones and walking trails. The traps use phenylacetaldehyde, a naturally derived chemical compound that lures and captures adult love bugs without the use of conventional pesticides.
The district will also clear fallen leaves and condition soil in parks and green areas to reduce the breeding habitat ahead of peak season. A rapid response sanitation team will be on standby during the outbreak period.
Informational materials explaining the insect's characteristics and recommended responses for residents will be distributed across the district.
Jongno District chief Chung Moon-heon said the district would combine trap operations with habitat management to minimize resident inconvenience and maintain a comfortable living environment.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.