Intensive pest control push

Geumcheon-gu District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon. [Geumcheon-gu]
Geumcheon-gu District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon. [Geumcheon-gu]

Geumcheon-gu has launched a comprehensive response system combining monitoring, trapping and disinfection to get ahead of the love bug (Plecia nearctica) outbreak sweeping the greater Seoul area and minimize disruption to residents, the district said.

Geumcheon-gu is the district most affected by love bugs during summer. Last year it received nearly 700 complaints related to the insects — the highest of any of Seoul's 25 autonomous districts.

Love bugs appear repeatedly every June and July. While they are not known to bite humans or transmit disease, populations can surge sharply, sending swarms into residential neighborhoods, parks and walking paths and generating a flood of resident complaints.

In response, Geumcheon-gu joined the Seoul Metropolitan Government's eco-friendly pest control pilot program and has been operating 265 attractant-based traps from this month through July, concentrating them in areas where outbreaks are expected and complaints have been frequent. The traps use natural attractants to lure and capture adult love bugs, with the aim of reducing the overall population and limiting their spread into residential areas.

In addition, two disinfection teams from the district public health center have formed a cooperative network with 11 resident volunteer pest control units and private pest management companies to carry out intensive spraying in outbreak hotspots and high-complaint zones. A special joint disinfection campaign is planned from late June through mid-July, with focused management of vulnerable areas including parks, walking paths and residential neighborhoods.

To strengthen protection for residential areas, the district expanded its pest control infrastructure, growing its fleet of equipment from 126 units to 133 — comprising 121 insect traps and 12 repellent-spray dispensers.

"We will do our utmost to minimize inconvenience for residents through pest control activities they can actually feel, and to create a pleasant living environment," District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon said.


ikson@heraldcorp.com