Seoul deploys drones to defeat lovebug threat as pests infiltrate capital's southern districts
Seoul has launched emergency pest control using water-spraying drones, traps and larval treatment as lovebug complaints rise and the insects expand into the city's upscale Gangnam area.
Water-spraying drones that Seoul will be using for pest control.SEOUL METROPOLITAN CITY
Lovebugs have spread beyond northern Seoul and into the Gangnam area in southern Seoul, with the city government deploying water-spraying drones for the first time as part of its pest control efforts.
Seoul announced Thursday that it has launched an emergency response and will use environmentally friendly water-spraying drones to combat the insects.
Lovebugs, formally known as the red-backed hairy fly, do not bite people or spread disease. However, they are known to cause public discomfort by flying while mating and reproducing rapidly over a short period.
Seoul received 1,515 complaints related to lovebugs this year through Tuesday. At the current pace, the total could surpass last year's 5,282 complaints and even approach the record 9,296 complaints filed in 2024.
The city analyzed complaint data and surveyed lovebug larval habitats to identify areas where outbreaks are expected. An environmentally friendly pest control project will be carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and Sahmyook University's Industry-Academic Cooperation Group.
The water-spraying drones deployed by Seoul take advantage of lovebugs' vulnerability to water, as contact with water reduces their ability to fly. The city plans to conduct four trial drone operations at Mount Bulam and Mount Surak to evaluate the method's effectiveness.
Workers conduct pest control for lovebugs.SEOUL METROPOLITAN CITY
The city has also begun a pilot project using environmentally friendly microbial agents to eliminate lovebug larvae in an effort to reduce future outbreaks. Larvae are currently being removed across four sites covering 31,500 square meters (339,000 square feet) in Eunpyeong District and Nowon District, both in northern Seoul.
A total of 4,895 attractant traps have been installed across all 25 districts. The devices use phenylacetaldehyde, which emits a rose, honey and chocolate-like scent to lure and capture the insects.
A large aerial insect trap that uses light to attract insects has also been installed on Mount Bulam in Nowon District. Besides capturing insects, the device is expected to help monitor lovebug population density and track their anticipated spread.
Lovebugs spread across Seoul
An attractant trap for lovebugs is tied to a tree.SEOUL METROPOLITAN CITY
Lovebugs generated especially large numbers of complaints in Eunpyeong District in 2022 and 2023.
In 2022, Eunpyeong accounted for 3,558, or 80.5 percent, of the 4,418 lovebug-related complaints filed across Seoul. Outbreaks were also concentrated in the Seodaemun and Mapo districts in western Seoul, while few complaints were reported in the Gangnam and Gangseo districts in western Seoul.
The insects continued to expand their range in 2023, spreading into the Jongno and Jung Districts in central Seoul.
By 2024, lovebugs had become widespread enough to generate at least 100 complaints in 20 of Seoul's 25 districts.
An aerial insect trap that uses light to attract lovebugs.SEOUL METROPOLITAN CITY
Seoul recorded 9,296 lovebug-related complaints that year. Yangcheon District in western Seoul recorded 1,208 complaints, and Guro District — also in western Seoul — recorded 1,079, making them major outbreak areas.
The only areas that reported relatively few complaints were Gwangjin and Gangdong Districts in eastern Seoul, along with Seocho, Songpa and Gangnam in southern Seoul. But the insects eventually spread into southern Seoul as well.
Complaints exceeded 100 for the first time in Seocho District, with 121 cases, and Gangnam District, with 159. This year, Gwangjin District has also reported a large number of complaints, reaching 309 as of Tuesday.
"Our goal in responding to lovebugs is to minimize inconvenience for citizens," said Cho Young-chang, director general of the city's Citizens' Health Bureau. "We will establish a more effective control model by enhancing a management system that covers outbreak forecasting, larval management and on-site response."
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
