Lovebugs are swarming Seoul, South Korea.
According to The Guardian, the capital city is seeing an increase in lovebug infestations. A viral video shares how severe the swarms are getting in some locations. On Sunday, June 29, @kimlark34 shared a clip of themselves surrounded by lovebugs during an outing to Gyeyangsan Mountain, which is in Incheon, about 30 minutes from Seoul.
In the footage, which has garnered over 9.2 million views, the man attempts to avoid the clouds of lovebugs, swiping at the insects with a shovel and swatter. His efforts appear fruitless against the overwhelming number of lovebugs.
In the video, the man stands on a wooden platform that is covered with insects. He uses a white shovel to move the insects off the footpath. As he pushes them aside, the insects continue to gather around him and land on his body.
Lovebugs.
Getty
Other clips shared on the same Instagram account show the lovebugs in the air as the man continues to walk around the area.
The video comes amid a documented increase in lovebug infestations in the city of Seoul. A local outlet reported that complaints about infestations doubled last year, with 9,296 cases in 2024 compared to the 4,418 cases in 2023, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
An announcement from the government in June encouraged residents to avoid using pesticides on lovebugs as they are “beneficial insects” that do not bite people. According to the government, the bugs carry pollen and enrich the soil.
A study in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management reported an “unprecedented outbreak of lovebugs” in northwest Seoul during the summer of 2022. The insects “were observed in abundance, covering streets, building walls, and window screens in densely populated urban neighborhoods, so remarkable that it was featured on national news in Korea.”
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The study stated that the bugs do not pose any immediate health concerns for humans. However, they “affect local businesses due to apparent inconvenience posed by their excessive presence and sanitary concerns.”
Lovebugs are also present in the United States, most commonly in Florida.
Per the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the insects also affect Texas and Louisiana. They are most active in temperatures above 84°F, making them a common summer nuisance.