"Yikes, Lovebug Sightings"... Even a Real-Time Map for the 'Unlikable Beneficial Insect'

"Unpleasant Insect" Lovebug Season Approaches
Map Launched for Sharing Lovebug Sightings

As the season for the insect nicknamed "Lovebug"—the red-backed hairy fly—returns, a real-time map has been launched that allows people to track Lovebug sightings live.

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According to multiple online communities on June 21, numerous posts are being uploaded confirming sightings of the Lovebug.

The red-backed hairy fly is called the Lovebug because the male and female are often seen flying together as a pair. The Lovebug is an invasive insect species that originally inhabited warm regions such as southeastern China and Okinawa, Japan, but has been observed in South Korea since 2022 due to climate change. The bug does not bite humans or transmit infectious diseases; its larvae decompose fallen leaves to enrich the soil, and the adult insects help pollinate flowers, making them beneficial to the ecosystem. However, because they sometimes swarm in the hundreds in a short period, fly toward people, and stick to building exteriors, windows, and vehicles, they are considered unpleasant by many and are referred to as "unlikable beneficial insects" or "nuisance insects."

According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the number of Lovebug-related civil complaints in the Seoul metropolitan area was 4,448 cases in 2022, 6,428 in 2023, 13,127 in 2024, and 11,429 in 2025.

A map to check the live status of Lovebug. Screenshot of the Lovebug Map homepage

In this context, a website has been launched that allows users to monitor the spread of Lovebugs in real time. The "Lovebug Map" provides information on Lovebug sightings for each city, county, and district in the metropolitan area. The likelihood of Lovebug appearances is displayed as a percentage (%), and the intensity of red shading on the map helps users instantly gauge the density of Lovebugs in each area. Red areas indicate regions with numerous sightings, while white areas indicate places where Lovebugs have not yet been observed.

Users can report sightings in their neighborhood by clicking the "I saw it" button. The Lovebug status for each region is updated as a "Lovebug Score" based on user reports and news sources. The map also shows how many minutes ago the latest report was submitted, and users can view photos of Lovebugs uploaded by others. However, as the system relies heavily on subjective user reports and comments, there are concerns about the objectivity and accuracy of the data. As of the morning of June 19, there were about 2,700 reports, with approximately 55% confirmed as actual Lovebug sightings.

Meanwhile, since Lovebugs are considered beneficial insects, it is difficult to actively control them using pesticides. As a result, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and local districts are responding by installing insect traps and using environmentally friendly control agents instead of chemical pesticides.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.