Scientists in Korea have successfully demonstrated an eco-friendly method to suppress the massive swarms of "lovebugs" that have choked the capital region in recent summers, offering a major breakthrough in urban pest management without resorting to toxic chemical pesticides. The National Institute of Forest Science said Tuesday that recent field trials utilizing organic plant extracts achieved a 59.3 percent control rate against Plecia longiforceps, commonly referred to as lovebugs. The findings offer immediate relief to municipal officials and millions of residents across Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. Over the last few years, the sudden, dense emergence of these paired swarming insects has caused widespread headaches. Although entirely harmless to humans and ecologically beneficial as natural decomposers, the insects have routinely coated storefronts, overwhelmed public parks and splattered across vehicle windshields, triggering a deluge of public complaints. Building on successful laboratory tests conducted last year, researchers shifted their focus to real-world environments