Korea is experiencing an insect population boom, which is in part an effect of climate change, environment experts said Wednesday.
A mountain area in Eunpyeong District, western Seoul, has been hit with hordes of stick insects; a species found in abundance in tropical and subtropical climates. The huge number of green and brown insects can be seen over the entire mountain area.
While local volunteers and officials from the local government have come together to solve the problem, news of the growing number of insects has concerned many local hikers who are “bug phobic.”
Insect researcher Kim Tae-woo from the National Institute of Biological Resources said stick insects were not seen here until the 1990s. In 2014, a similar infestation was reported in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province but this is the first case in Seoul.
However, the gypsy moth problem seems bigger.