Korea turns to eco-friendly pesticides to combat surge of lovebugs

“Korean forest researchers are accelerating field trials of eco-friendly pesticides to combat a massive surge of Plecia longiforceps — commonly known as lovebugs — that has swarmed mountains and residential areas near the capital. The National Institute of Forest Science said Monday that it is conducting outdoor trials using three types of organic pest-control agents on Mount Baeknyeon in Seoul and Mount Gyeyang in neighboring Incheon. The move comes after the insects mass-reproduced in these areas, causing widespread discomfort for hikers and residents and emerging as a distinct local nuisance. The lovebugs, which are a species of march fly, earn their nickname from their behavior of flying in mating pairs. While harmless to humans and ecologically beneficial as decomposers, their sheer numbers in urban forests and apartment complexes have triggered public complaints. Looking for a sustainable solution, the institute's forest pest research division recently tested two entomopathogenic fungal agents and a plant-extract based pesticide in a lab setting. After the eco-friendly mixtures

Summary generated from the RSS feed of Korea Times Southkorea. All article rights belong to the original publisher. Click through to read the full piece on www.koreatimes.co.kr.