Millions of 'lovebugs' swarm hikers in South Korea

What we know

Hikers were inundated with millions of lovebugs at the summit of Gyeyangsan mountain in South Korea.

Videos posted to social media show a hiker swatting away the insects with an electric bug zapper while covered in the small bugs.

Local media reports that the mountain was "covered with bugs" that formed a "thick carpet".

What are lovebugs?

Lovebugs are known for their behavior of flying around in pairs and have been appearing in large numbers across parts of South Korea in the last few years.

Context matter

Lovebug swarms are not uncommon in South Korea as they are known to migrate during mating season. However, this year the weather conditions have led to an unprecedented increase in their population.

Reaction

Many hikers were surprised and dismayed at the unexpected swarm, and wildlife experts are concerned about the impact of lovebug infestations on the ecosystem.